South Korea, the United States and Japan are pushing to convene their Defense Trilateral Talks next month to discuss follow-up steps for Japan's recent security enactment, a government source said.
Japan passed a package of security bills through the upper chamber on Saturday, which allows the country's armed forces to engage in overseas combat, even when the country is not under attack, removing limits on the military put in place after the end of World War II.
The three countries "are pushing for a plan to hold the DTT next month to be debriefed by Japan on its enactment and revision of security laws and discuss follow-up measures," the government source said. "They are tuning the schedule to come before the Security Consultative Meeting between Seoul and Washington slated for mid-October in Seoul."
If the deputy ministerial-level trilateral talks take place, South Korea may reassert its position that Tokyo needs Seoul's consent in exercising the newly acquired right to fight overseas on matters related to the Korean Peninsula.
Japan may also explain the new security enactment to the other two parties during the planned meeting.
"The meeting is highly likely to take place next month as the three countries have agreed to discuss security issues through trilateral security consultation," another government source said, referring to their agreement made in Singapore in May. (Yonhap)
