Defense Secretary Esper to Travel to South Korea Next Week

I guess we will see if the U.S. Defense Secretary can help mend defense relations between Japan and the ROK next week:

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper will travel to South Korea next week for annual defense ministers’ talks ahead of the expiry of a key military intelligence-sharing pact between Seoul and Tokyo, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Esper will depart Wednesday to travel to Seoul, Bangkok, Manila and Hanoi, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said during a press briefing. He did not provide the exact dates, but it appears likely the secretary will travel in that order.

Esper’s trip to Seoul comes ahead of the Nov. 23 expiration of the General Security of Military Information Agreement between South Korea and Japan.

Washington has urged Seoul to reconsider its decision to end the pact in consideration of the three countries’ mutual security interests.

Yonhap

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