Seoul, April 16 (SANA) Senior naval commanders from the United States, South Korea, and Japan convened in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss strengthening trilateral cooperation in maritime security amid rising regional tensions.
Yonhap News Agency quoted the South Korean Navy as saying in a statemen South Korea’s Navy, Admiral Kim Kyung-ryul, Chief of Naval Operations, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Steve “Web” Koehler exchanged views on the robust joint defense posture between South Korea and the United States. Their talks also covered collaboration on warship maintenance, repair, and operations.
Admiral Kim also met with Admiral Akira Saito, Chief of Staff of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, for in-depth discussions on expanding personnel exchanges and resuming joint maritime search and rescue exercises.
These meetings come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, sparking speculation that the talks may have touched on the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had called on South Korea, Japan, and other nations to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure vital maritime navigation routes.
R.D/ABD
