Following the visit to Yasukuni Shrine by Koizumi Shinjiro (小泉進次郎), the Minister of Defense, concerns have emerged over the impact on Japan-South Korea defense cooperation. Against the backdrop of the wartime labor lawsuit and the fire-control radar illumination incident, attention is focused on future efforts to recalibrate Japan-South Korea relations.
Koizumi Shinjiro (小泉進次郎), the Minister of Defense, visited Yasukuni Shrine on the 15th. There are concerns that the visit has heightened apprehension over Japan-South Korea defense cooperation.
Japan-South Korea relations deteriorated in 2018 amid the ruling in the wartime labor lawsuit and the fire-control radar illumination incident around the same time, but momentum has emerged for the resumption of exchanges between the two countries, including in the defense field.
At a meeting of the Japanese and South Korean defense ministers in June 2024, the two sides agreed on measures to prevent a recurrence. Since then, efforts have continued to make exchanges routine, and discussions on cooperation are moving forward in light of Koizumi Shinjiro's (小泉進次郎) visit to South Korea and the easing of export rules.
Going forward, the focus will be on South Korea's response and the development of a framework for cooperation on defense equipment, while the risk of a further deterioration in Japan-South Korea relations continues to be reported.