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South Korean Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo (right) shakes hands with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani at the 2016 Shangri-La Dialogue (Asia Security Summit) in Singapore on June 4. (provided by the Ministry of National Defense)

The specifics of South Korea and Japan’s defense cooperation plans are coming into sharper focus following the 2016 Shangri-La Dialogue (Asia Security Summit) in Singapore from June 3 to 5.

Talks between South Korean Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani on June 4 focused not only on an increase in direct phone lines between the two militaries but also other measures to promote mutual understanding and trust, including exchanges of high-level personnel, visits to units, mutual training observation visits, visits to aircraft and cruise training squadrons, and cooperation on anti-piracy operations. While some caution was still evident, the broader trend was clearly toward stronger bilateral cooperation.

It’s a trend that gained momentum following a trilateral summit by South Korean President Park Geun-hye, US President Barack Obama, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a March 2014 visit to The Hague for the Nuclear Security Summit. In May 2015, the South Korean and Japanese Defense Ministers held bilateral talks - their first since 2011 - while attending that year’s Shangri-La Dialogue. That October, Nakatani visited Seoul to meet with Han and discuss stronger bilateral military exchanges and cooperation.

The latest talks saw the two ministers going a step farther. A battle of nerves had previously unfolded at the two talks the year before, with Han expressing concerns about Japan’s exercise of collective self-defense. At the time, an obstacle to military cooperation was still present.

This time, the debate was much quieter.

One notable feature of the talks is the role played by the North Korean military threat in justifying increased military cooperation. The Park administration’s hard-line policies and pressure tactics against Pyongyang have hurt inter-Korean ties and raised tensions, leading to an argument in favor of cooperation with Japan to respond to the threat. This year, which began with North Korea’s fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch, has also brought exchanges of senior South Korean and Japanese military staff. In March, Tomohisa Takei became the first Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff to visit South Korea in four years. The following month, South Korean Army Chief of Staff Jang Jun-gyu visited Japan - the first time in eight years for someone in his position.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense remains cautious about some aspects of cooperation. Following the talks, Nakatani said the increased phone lines agreed upon with Han on June 4 included a “minister-level line.” In contrast, South Korean Ministry authorities said the agreement had only been for “an increase in lines,” and that additional discussions would be needed on the specifics. During the talks, Nakatani also mentioned the need for a General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) agreement with South Korea. Han was more circumspect, acknowledging the military need but stressing that “the conditions need to mature.” It‘s a sign of Seoul’s awareness of the public’s negative attitudes toward military cooperation with Japan.

For all the difficulties, military cooperation between South Korea and Japan does appear poised to increase under the US-led trilateral security cooperation umbrella. The most immediate effects are expected in the area of missile defense. The North Korean nuclear and missile threats have served as a key justification for both bilateral and trilateral military cooperation with Japan and the US. In late June, the three sides are planning to hold their first trilateral anti-missile exercises near Hawaii. It’s a practice run for a North Korean missile launch scenario, with Aegis-equipped warships from the three sides detecting and tracking the missile and sharing information in real time. It also means that bilateral military cooperation between South Korea and Japan is taking concrete shape under the trilateral missile defense framework with the US.

Meanwhile, Sun Jianguo, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, delivered a presentation at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 5 reiterating Beijing’s opposition to deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system with US Forces Korea.

“THAAD would be a measure exceeding the necessary defense capabilities for the Korean Peninsula and undermine the region’s stability,” Sun said.

Sun also expressed opposition to THAAD deployment during talks with Han the previous day.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer in Singapore

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]