The nuclear threat of North Korea is bringing Japan and South Korea closer together

On Monday, April 17, high-ranking diplomats and defense officials of South Korea and Japan held their first joint meeting since March 2018.

During the session, the sides exchanged views on the situation around the Korean Peninsula and defense and security policies, including how to respond to North Korea's nuclear threats. Also, security cooperation between South Korea, USA and Japan was seriously discussed.

The meeting came after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kisida agreed last month to restore ties and boost security cooperation after the two countries' historic rifts in the wake of North Korea's escalating provocations.