South Korea's and Japan's defense chiefs reaffirmed trilateral security cooperation with the United States at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur on November 1. They emphasized bilateral ties amid North Korean nuclear and missile threats, with South Korean Minister Ahn Gyu-back calling for China's constructive role. The forum addressed regional peace amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 1 under the theme "ASEAN Unity for Security and Prosperity." Chaired by Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, it gathered leaders from the 11-member bloc and eight dialogue partners, including South Korea, the United States, Japan, and China. In opening remarks, Nordin stressed unity and adherence to international law, noting transnational threats like cyberattacks, food insecurity, and climate crises demand urgent action. "The ASEAN region remains a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality—not a stage for strategic rivalry," he added, emphasizing ASEAN-led dialogue and consensus.
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held his first in-person talks with Japan's new Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Ahn congratulated Koizumi on his inauguration and underscored bilateral coordination to address geopolitical uncertainties. Koizumi called South Korea "an important neighboring country and a partner" in tackling international challenges. Both agreed to advance future-oriented defense ties. The meeting occurred amid North Korea's October disclosure of the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile and short-range ballistic missile launches.
In a speech, Ahn described North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities as "a grave challenge to regional peace and stability and the international non-proliferation regime." He urged joint efforts by nearby countries, including China, and the international community to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. "Not only South and North Korea, but nearby countries... should together establish peace," he said. South Korea plans a "two-track" approach: firm deterrence via the robust ROK-U.S. alliance while easing inter-Korean tensions and building trust.
Ahn requested China's "constructive" role for Korean Peninsula peace and stability in talks with Defense Minister Dong Jun, the first bilateral defense meeting since June 2023. They assessed the recent APEC summit between Presidents Lee Jae-myung and Xi Jinping as a turning point for ties. Ahn explained South Korea's stance on Chinese activities in its air defense identification zone and nearby waters, including concerns over steel structures in the Yellow Sea's overlapping areas, calling for mutual respect and communication.
With U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Ahn discussed strengthening alliance cooperation ahead of the 57th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul on Tuesday. Hegseth congratulated the successful ROK-U.S. APEC summit and anticipated the SCM. Topics include North Korea policy coordination and combined defense posture, amid a shifting security environment with China's assertiveness and South Korea's goal to regain wartime operational control within President Lee's term.
Ahn also held talks with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Malaysian Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Thai Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit on defense and arms industry cooperation. He pledged expanded personnel exchanges, education, and technology ties with ASEAN to contribute to regional stability. The forum unfolded against U.S.-China rivalry over trade, security, and the South China Sea, with Hegseth voicing "serious" concerns over China's maritime activities to Dong on Friday.
