Since a second summit between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea collapsed without an agreement earlier this year, North Korea has fired 10 short-range missiles and projectiles deemed new and upgraded. The defense report also noted China’s threat is expanding into space from the regional seas and said Japan must prioritize space security. Even though Japan and South Korea are U.S. allies who face shared threats, the defense report gave South Korea a relegated position. In the report, Japan urged Seoul to “wisely respond to secure appropriate cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and among Japan, the U.S., and South Korea.”The intelligence-sharing pact had symbolized the countries’ three-way security cooperation countering North Korea and China. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, citing the recent tensions, said it is not inviting South Korea to an international navy review Japan hosts next month.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 27, 2019 05:03 UTC