Singapore, May 31 (IANS) South Korea has discussed a Japan-proposed bilateral military logistics support pact with Tokyo, although Seoul maintained its reservations over the matter, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Sunday.

Ahn made the remarks to the press at a defence forum in Singapore, a day after he had bilateral talks with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

“There were discussions regarding (a potential) Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA),” the South Korean Defence Minister told reporters at the Shangri-La Dialogue, referring to an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement.

He declined to give further details, Yonhap news agency reported.

“As this is a matter that requires understanding and persuasion from the people of both countries, we still believe that we should remain cautious,” he said.

It marked the first time that a Seoul official acknowledged that an ACSA was among the agenda items discussed between the Defence authorities of the two countries.

An ACSA is a bilateral pact between the US and its allies on facilitating the sharing of logistics, supplies and services, such as food, fuel and transportation, during contingencies.

Tokyo has been seeking to sign a bilateral ACSA with Seoul between their militaries as a way to enhance bilateral military coordination and also trilaterally with the US, their mutual ally, and help provide a framework for stronger deterrence against North Korean threats and China’s assertiveness.

But Seoul has been cautious about the issue largely due to concerns that it could potentially allow Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to engage in operations on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in consideration of its ties with Beijing.

Thorny wartime history issues stemming from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea are also cited as a factor behind Seoul’s guarded approach to the matter.

“An ACSA is premature at this stage, and we are not reviewing the matter,” a Defence Ministry official noted.

Asked about US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s call on Saturday for a “balanced” approach to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), Ahn said he views it as part of the US’ “positive assessment” of Seoul’s readiness and capabilities required for the transition.

“As we have various responsibilities to stably manage our combined defense posture (after the OPCON transfer), I believe it was an assessment of our capabilities and our level of preparedness,” he said.

During a plenary session on Saturday, Hegseth called for “finding a balance” in the OPCON transfer in ways that the roles the US military has played for decades on the Korean Peninsula are “honoured”.

His remarks drew attention amid growing concerns over what appears to be differing views between Seoul and Washington over when and how the transition should proceed.

Seoul is seeking to retake the wartime OPCON from the US before the Lee Jae Myung government’s five-year term ends in 2030.

But US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson has mentioned the first quarter of 2029 as a potential timeline.

The allies have yet to announce a target year for the OPCON transfer.

“My understanding is that (the Secretary) meant to call for working together to align our efforts and energy (to move it forward),” Ahn said.

–IANS

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