From Historical Rivals to Security Partners: Can Seoul and Tokyo Sustain Their Defence Reset?

South Korea and Japan’s decision to revive joint search-and-rescue exercises and reaffirm their commitment to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula signals more than the restoration of a military activity, it reflects a strategic shift in Northeast Asia where shared security concerns are increasingly taking precedence over decades of historical and political disagreements. The meeting between South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi comes as North Korea continues advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities, while geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific intensifies. Encouraged by the United States, Seoul and Tokyo are gradually rebuilding defence cooperation, recognising…