By Yi Whan-woo
The role of Tokyo's Self-Defense Forces in the event of a military contingency on the Korean Peninsula has been discussed at a series of security talks held by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan since October, according to military sources, Thursday.
They declined to make public the talks due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The disclosure comes amid Tokyo's dubious stance over whether its military would forcibly enter the Korean Peninsula in the event of a war against North Korea.
"The working-level dialogue among brigadier generals from the three countries took several meetings following their first in October," a source said.
The Ministry of Defense refused to confirm such claims, only saying, "The three allies agreed to keep every detail concerning their negotiations behind closed doors."
The sources said that the government's secret move indicates the sensitive nature of the talks regarding Japanese troops and their possible presence on the peninsula.
"The government at least disclosed the time and place prior to such meetings in the past," they said.
The three countries held working-level security talks in Tokyo from Oct. 22 to 23 in line with the broader Defense Trilateral Talks, which are aimed at bolstering a trilateral security alliance in the region.
Seoul's defense ministry disclosed the date and place following a backlash over Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani's remarks during a Seoul-Tokyo defense minister talk on Oct. 20.
Nakatani hinted that the Japanese military could carry out operations in North Korea without the South's approval, saying that Seoul's governing area is limited to south of the Military Demarcation Line.
Seoul has repeatedly warned that Tokyo's forces will not be allowed on the Korean Peninsula without consent after the Japanese parliament passed a new security law in September.
The law removes limits on Japanese military operations overseas under the Pacifist Constitution and allows the Self-Defense Forces to help its allies, especially the U.S., in the event of emergency.
The controversial legislation is the centerpiece of Tokyo's steps to bolster the U.S.-Japan security alliance amid China's growing military assertiveness plus North Korea's cycle of military provocations and threats in the region.
The role of Tokyo's Self-Defense Forces in the event of a military contingency on the Korean Peninsula has been discussed at a series of security talks held by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan since October, according to military sources, Thursday.
They declined to make public the talks due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The disclosure comes amid Tokyo's dubious stance over whether its military would forcibly enter the Korean Peninsula in the event of a war against North Korea.
"The working-level dialogue among brigadier generals from the three countries took several meetings following their first in October," a source said.
The Ministry of Defense refused to confirm such claims, only saying, "The three allies agreed to keep every detail concerning their negotiations behind closed doors."
The sources said that the government's secret move indicates the sensitive nature of the talks regarding Japanese troops and their possible presence on the peninsula.
"The government at least disclosed the time and place prior to such meetings in the past," they said.
The three countries held working-level security talks in Tokyo from Oct. 22 to 23 in line with the broader Defense Trilateral Talks, which are aimed at bolstering a trilateral security alliance in the region.
Seoul's defense ministry disclosed the date and place following a backlash over Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani's remarks during a Seoul-Tokyo defense minister talk on Oct. 20.
Nakatani hinted that the Japanese military could carry out operations in North Korea without the South's approval, saying that Seoul's governing area is limited to south of the Military Demarcation Line.
Seoul has repeatedly warned that Tokyo's forces will not be allowed on the Korean Peninsula without consent after the Japanese parliament passed a new security law in September.
The law removes limits on Japanese military operations overseas under the Pacifist Constitution and allows the Self-Defense Forces to help its allies, especially the U.S., in the event of emergency.
The controversial legislation is the centerpiece of Tokyo's steps to bolster the U.S.-Japan security alliance amid China's growing military assertiveness plus North Korea's cycle of military provocations and threats in the region.
![[ANALYSIS] Yoon-Kishida summit may 'raise ceiling' for trilateral cooperation with US: expert](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/4441fec10b984c11a329cd613190edc7.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'The Glory' actress Lim Ji-yeon says she wanted everyone to hate her character](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/5dd32010f2884ea980ea246cea8a7d9a.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
