Japan, South Korea to Upgrade to 2-Plus-2 Talks Among Top Foreign, Defense Bureaucrats

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:37 JST, April 11, 2026

Japan and South Korea have begun coordinating on a new framework for “two-plus-two” meetings of the top bureaucrats in their foreign and defense ministries, with plans to hold the first meeting in Seoul as soon as early May, according to sources close to the two governments.

The two countries are expected to align their responses to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, China and North Korea as well as their understanding of the Middle East situation. They also aim to strengthen their security cooperation, which will underlie cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States.

The move came after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed in a meeting in Nara in January on the importance of security cooperation between their countries as well as among Japan, South Korea and the United States. The Japanese government plans to send Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi and Vice Defense Minister for International Affairs Koji Kano.

Officials are expected to discuss responses to China, whose relations with Japan have grown strained, and North Korea, which is accelerating its nuclear development program with support from Russia.

The two countries face some shared issues. As U.S. allies, they have both been buffeted by President Trump’s policies. The de-facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also dealt a serious economic blow to both.

Given the situation, Tokyo and Seoul hope to foster better communication between their foreign and defense authorities and deepen coordination, including on the United States.

Japan holds two-plus-two meetings of foreign and defense ministers with nine countries, including the United States and European and Asian countries. Japan and South Korea have held talks among their director generals, but Tokyo had called for upgrading these to talks among their vice ministers.

Through the new framework, Japan will also seek cooperation in such areas as providing supplies to defense units and expanding joint drills, according to the sources.

However, members of South Korea’s left wing, who support the Lee administration, are reportedly wary of security cooperation due to Japan’s history of colonial rule over the country and its consideration for China and North Korea.

President Lee is believed to have decided to upgrade talks because of the increasingly difficult international situation, as well as because of warming Japan-South Korea relations.