Seoul Denies Japanese Media Reports on Mutual Logistics Support Pact

Seoul has firmly refuted Japanese media claims that the two nations are considering a mutual logistics support agreement. The reports, particularly from Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, suggested that Tokyo is aiming for concrete achievements in defense cooperation, including a pact for the reciprocal provision of military supplies. This move, according to Japanese perspectives, is intended to bolster trilateral security cooperation with the United States and serve as a deterrent against North Korean and Chinese military provocations.

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We are not considering the conclusion of a Korea-Japan mutual logistics support agreement (ACSA).

During the 14th South Korea-Japan Security Policy Consultative Meeting, held at the vice-ministerial level in Seoul, both sides acknowledged the increasing importance of bilateral and trilateral cooperation amidst a volatile global security environment. However, the South Korean government, represented by First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yun-ju and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee, has reiterated its position that it is not considering a mutual logistics support pact (ACSA). A Defense Ministry official emphasized that while South Korea seeks stable and future-oriented defense exchanges based on mutual respect and trust, the ACSA is not on the table.

Japanese officials, speaking anonymously to the Nikkei, highlighted the significance of the timing of the security meeting in maintaining US engagement in East Asia. The Yomiuri Shimbun also noted the historical context, referencing lingering public sentiment in South Korea against closer military ties with Japan due to its colonial past, and quoted President Lee Myung-bak's remarks about the need to proceed with security cooperation while being mindful of public sentiment.

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The significance of being able to hold (the South Korea-Japan Security Policy Consultative Meeting) at this timing is great in order to connect the United States' interest to East Asia.

Despite Seoul's current stance, the possibility of continued discussions on security cooperation remains high. Upcoming high-level visits, including potential trips by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara to South Korea, suggest that security and defense issues will continue to be a prominent topic in bilateral relations. The article also recalls past attempts to deepen military ties, such as the failed attempt to conclude a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOMIA) during the Lee Myung-bak administration, which was eventually signed under the Park Geun-hye government, indicating the complex and often sensitive nature of defense diplomacy between the two nations.

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There is a sense of resistance in South Korea toward the Self-Defense Forces as a result of Japan's colonial rule.