Japan, S. Korea to hold vice defense ministerial talks next week

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Japan and South Korea will hold a vice defense ministerial meeting in Seoul on Wednesday to confirm their cooperation in addressing security concerns arising partly from nuclear and missile development by Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan's defense ministry said Friday.

During the meeting, Japanese Vice Defense Minister Masanori Nishi will ask his South Korean counterpart to conclude a planned intelligence pact soon so that they can exchange confidential information mainly on defense matters, local media quoted the ministry as saying.

Nishi's visit also aims at calling for a bilateral defense ministerial meeting at an early date and seeking South Korea's acceptance of Japan's attempt to exercise collective self-defense right, said Japan's Kyodo News.

The upcoming visit is the first vice defense ministerial meeting between the two countries since November 2011.

Relations between Japan and South Korea frayed due to territorial dispute and Japan's attitude toward war-linked history.