Seoul: The defense chiefs of South Korea and Japan are set to engage in significant discussions in Seoul next week, as announced by South Korea's defense ministry. This meeting marks the first official visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister since 2015.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting between South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, coincides with Nakatani's attendance at the Seoul Defense Dialogue. This annual security forum is organized by Seoul's defense ministry and serves as a platform for addressing regional security issues.

The foundation for this meeting was laid during phone conversations last month, where Ahn and Nakatani decided to advance their bilateral security cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation involving the United States and agreed to meet soon for in-depth discussions.

Nakatani had initially planned to visit Seoul in December last year; however, the trip was canceled due to the political unrest following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

In addition to Nakatani, the defense chiefs of Croatia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and South Africa will participate in the three-day security forum, scheduled from Monday to Wednesday, as reported by the ministry.

The forum will feature the chair of the NATO military committee, vice defense chiefs from eight nations, and security experts from 68 countries, gathering under the theme "Confronting Geopolitical Challenges: Building Peace through Cooperation."