The 6th Japan-R.O.K. Politico-Military Talks

May 11, 2007

The 6th Japan-Republic of Korea Politico-Military Talks were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 10 (Thu).

The Talks were attended on the Japanese side by Mr. Kenichiro Sasae, Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hironori Kanazawa, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense, and other officials from the two ministries; and on the R.O.K. side by Mr. Kim Joe Shin, Director-General, Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brigadier General Kim Byoung Gi, Vice Director, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of National Defense, and other officials from the two ministries.

At the Talks, the diplomatic and defense authorities of the two countries, which are neighbors and both allies of the United States, exchanged candid views on the security environment surrounding them, the security policy of each country and other matters, shared common recognition and further deepened mutual understanding.

On the North Korean nuclear issue, Japan and the R.O.K. shared the view that it was necessary to implement the “initial actions” at the earliest date possible, and they confirmed that they would continue closely coordinating with each other.

Japan and the R.O.K. also reaffirmed the importance of this kind of dialogue and agreed to further promote defense exchange at various levels in the fields that have been taken so far.

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