By Kim Hyo-jin
Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, will hold talks in Seoul on Oct. 20, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday.
“The two ministers are expected to discuss their defense policies, the security situation in the region, bilateral cooperation and exchanges,” the ministry said.
“Han will also hear and discuss the Japanese side’s explanation regarding the security laws passed in September.”
It will be the second talks between the defense ministers of Korea and Japan this year.
Nakatani’s visit comes at a sensitive time when Korea is worried about possible consequences of Tokyo’s move to expand the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad.
Controversy has been escalating here over the Japanese forces’ possible entrance on and near South Korean territory.
Tokyo has constantly expressed its hope to explain the implication of the bills to Seoul, wary of growing concern in the neighboring country.
Seoul is expected to reaffirm its stance that SDF activity that affects the peninsula will not be allowed unless Japan seeks the Korean government’s agreement.
Nakatani is also expected to stress again the need for a bilateral agreement to share sensitive military information to deter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.
In 2012, the two countries were close to signing the General Security Military Information Agreement, but it fell through at the last minute due to intense public criticism of the government’s secretive handling of negotiations.
Seoul is likely to say it is too early to discuss the issue without Tokyo changing its revisionist stance on history.
During their first meeting on the sidelines of the 14th Asia Security Summit in Singapore in May, the two ministers agreed to resume discussions about mutual concerns and defense cooperation.
It is the first visit of a Japanese defense minister to Seoul since the second term of the Abe ministration started in December 2012.