South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik called for strengthening cooperation with Tokyo and Washington to counter the "nuclear and missile threat" posed by North Korea.

According to Ednews, Minister Shin Won-sik made these remarks during a meeting with his Japanese and US counterparts, Minoru Kihara and Lloyd Austin, respectively.

Kyodo News Agency reports that Shin Won-sik emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation, stating, "In the face of the threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile program development, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea."

This meeting marked a historic moment as Suh Wook became the first South Korean Defense Minister to visit Japan in 15 years.

Kihara also stressed the significance of trilateral cooperation, while US Secretary of Defense Austin expressed his belief that the meeting would contribute to a "free and open Indo-Pacific region." The concept of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," sometimes seen as a counter to China's Belt, Road initiative was initially proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2016 and is now actively promoted by the US, Japan, and their allies.

The three nations may also discuss what they perceive as China's assertive actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as well as the deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea.