Korea, Japan defense chiefs agree to cooperate on AI, maritime search and rescue - The Korea Times

Korea and Japan defense chiefs agreed to cooperate on AI and maritime search and rescue during talks in Seoul, highlighting expanding coordination despite regional security pressure. Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced joint cooperation pledges on Sunday, the first bilateral visit by a Japanese defense minister in 11 years. The two sides said they will cooperate on developing artificial intelligence and other advanced defense technologies, while also reaffirming commitments to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace in the region. They also endorsed exchanges between their aerobatic teams, the Black Eagles and Blue Impulse, and discussed continuing maritime search and rescue exercises for accidents at sea. The statement referenced a Seoul-Tokyo joint drill on June 7, the first in nine years, and noted the aerobatic exchange after Black Eagles refueled in Okinawa en route to a defense show in January. The statement did not mention the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which has recently resurfaced.