Ankara: South Korea and Japan on Sunday agreed to deepen bilateral defense exchanges and cooperation including in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, local media reported. The shared understanding was reached in talks in Seoul between South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his visiting Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi.

According to Anadolu Agency, Koizumi arrived in the South Korean capital on Saturday for a two-day visit, marking his first trip as defense minister. This visit is part of ongoing efforts to bolster defense cooperation amid improving bilateral ties between the two nations. It follows months after South Korea's defense chief visited Japan in January.

A joint press statement released after the talks conveyed that the two ministers agreed to advance exchanges and cooperation between their respective aerobatic teams, South Korea's Black Eagles and Japan's Blue Impulse. They also committed to enhancing search and rescue exercises for maritime contingencies and pursuing greater cooperation in advanced science and technology fields, including artificial intelligence.

Furthermore, the two countries reaffirmed their dedication to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace in the region. Earlier this month, South Korea and Japan resumed their joint maritime search and rescue exercises for the first time in nine years, signifying a renewed commitment to their strategic partnership.