Story perspectives

South Korea, Japan Launch First Joint SAR Exercise in Decade

6/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

South Korea and Japan will conduct their first joint humanitarian search-and-rescue exercise in ten years.
Defence ministers Ahn Gyu-back and Shinjiro Koizumi met in Seoul on June 28, reaffirmed a pledge to denuclearise the Korean peninsula and said cooperation will continue with the United States.
Disputes over forced-labour women and the Dokdo/Takeshima islands persist, while 2025-2026 agreements added security, economic and logistics ties, including a fuel, food and ammunition support pact.

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Story summary

South Korea and Japan will conduct their first joint humanitarian search-and-rescue exercise in ten years.
Defence ministers Ahn Gyu-back and Shinjiro Koizumi met in Seoul on June 28, reaffirmed a pledge to denuclearise the Korean peninsula and said cooperation will continue with the United States.
Disputes over forced-labour women and the Dokdo/Takeshima islands persist, while 2025-2026 agreements added security, economic and logistics ties, including a fuel, food and ammunition support pact.