South Korea and Japan are set to hold their first vice-ministerial "2+2" security talks in Seoul on Thursday. The meeting aims to boost cooperation on shared security concerns.
The foreign and defense officials from both countries will discuss ways to strengthen bilateral and trilateral security cooperation involving the United States. Key topics include North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and evolving security conditions in the Asia-Pacific region.
South Korea will be represented by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee. From Japan, Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Senior Vice Defense Minister Koji Kano are expected to participate.
The security consultations had previously been held at the director-general level but were upgraded to the vice-ministerial level for the first time this year. Officials also plan to address the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, including the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
