South Korea's Defence chief departs for talks with Japanese counterpart in Yokosuka

SEOUL: South Korea's Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back departed on Thursday for Japan to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, to discuss regional security issues and defence cooperation, the defence ministry said.

Ahn departed via Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for the Japanese port city of Yokosuka, where the US 7th Fleet is based, to attend the bilateral defence ministerial talks set for Friday.

"(The defence chiefs) are expected to discuss the security situation in the region and bilateral defence cooperation," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a regular press briefing, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Chung said the two countries plan to continue strengthening defence cooperation, including exchanges or information sharing for humanitarian purposes, referring to the refueling of the South Korean Air Force's aerobatic flight team at Japan's Naha air base the previous day.