<Anchor>



The Asian Security Conference in Singapore has come to an end.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop said that he was determined to strengthen security cooperation between the ROK, the United States and Japan, and was particularly willing to engage in serious dialogue with Japan.



Correspondent Kim A-young.



<Reporter>



On the last day of the Asia Security Conference, Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop delivered a speech on the topic of defense challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.



Minister Lee emphasized the need for North Korea's denuclearization, pointing out that North Korea's provocations, such as the test launch of an ICBM and preparations for the 7th nuclear test, are a major threat to regional stability.



As a countermeasure, he suggested security cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan, along with strengthening the executive power of expansion deterrence, such as the deployment of US strategic assets.



[Lee Jong-seop/Minister of National Defense: We also want to strengthen trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile responses.]



Minister Lee added that he is particularly willing to have a serious conversation with Japan.



It can also be interpreted as meaning that he intends to start the Korea-Japan dialogue through security as a medium.



Earlier, the defense ministers of South Korea, the United States and Japan had a separate meeting yesterday (11th) and discussed ways to cooperate with North Korea, such as the trilateral missile warning training and ballistic missile tracking and monitoring training.



It is said that this move to increase the cohesion of the three countries was driven by a strong request from the US, but the prevailing view is that it is difficult for South Korea and Japan to work together right away.



[Lee Chang-min/Professor of Japanese Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies: (Japan) is in a difficult situation to take risks ahead of the House of Councilors election in early July, and there are issues called prerequisites (from the Japanese point of view, such as forced labor and the comfort women agreement). Because…

.]



However, dialogue between diplomatic channels is expected to continue, and it is reported that Foreign Minister Park Jin will visit Japan this month and hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.



If the Korea-Japan ministerial meeting is successful, it is expected that the discussion of the Korea-Japan summit will be materialized with the NATO summit to be held in Spain on the 29th.



(Video coverage: Kim Tae-Hoon, video editing: Jeong Seong-Hoon)