South Korea, Japan discuss military-logistics support deal, Seoul says


Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back review the troops during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, in Yokosuka District, Tokyo, January 30, 2026. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTERS

(Corrects additional reporting ⁠credit to Tokyo, not Seoul)

SINGAPORE, May 31 (Reuters) - ⁠South Korea and Japan discussed the ‌possibility of a military-logistics support agreement on Sunday, Seoul's defense chief said, adding that Seoul remains cautious about the ​politically sensitive pact.

"It requires the ⁠understanding and persuasion ⁠of the citizens of both nations, and I ⁠believe ‌we should still proceed with caution," Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told reporters ⁠after meeting his counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi at ​the Shangri-La ‌Dialogue of regional defence officials in Singapore.

Ahn ⁠was referring ​to a potential acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, which would allow neighbouring U.S. allies Seoul and Tokyo ⁠to share and mutually procure ​military logistics such as fuel, food and ammunition.

South Korea has been cautious about a deal, given ⁠persistent grievances over Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule and public resistance to the possibility of Japanese troops operating on the Korean Peninsula.

Calls to ​Japan's Defense Ministry and Prime ⁠Minister's Office seeking comment went unanswered outside business ​hours.

(Reporting by Rae Wee ‌in Singapore and Hyunjoo Jin ​in Seoul; Additional reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard)

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