Defence talks end with ping-pong rally for Japan, South Korea

South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi played a brief game of ping-pong following a 55-minute meeting at Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force base in the port city south of Tokyo.

The friendly rally came after Koizumi suggested the game on learning that Ahn plays table tennis regularly, turning a tightly choreographed diplomatic visit into a moment of informal rapport.

Koizumi proposed a simple challenge — to keep the ball in play for 10 exchanges — but the opening rally fell just short. A second attempt stretched longer, drawing smiles and encouragement from both sides.

After four short games, the impromptu contest ended in a 2-2 draw, with Koizumi praising Ahn’s technique and joking that he would need more practice.

The South Korean defence ministry later said the exchange reflected growing camaraderie between the two leaders, adding that the relaxed atmosphere carried over from their formal talks.

Productive talks

In a joint statement, the ministers agreed to resume bilateral search and rescue exercises between the two navies, reviving drills that have been suspended for nine years.

They also committed to deepening defence cooperation through regular ministerial talks and annual reciprocal visits, as security concerns in the region continue to mount.

The meeting marked Ahn’s first official visit to Japan since taking office, and comes amid a broader thaw in relations between the two neighbours after years of friction rooted in historical disputes.

In their joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed support for the “complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula” and underscored the importance of close coordination with the United States.

While North Korea was not named directly, Seoul later said the talks included agreement to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation to address Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities.

The use of the phrase “denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula” echoed language favoured in past diplomatic efforts, as South Korea seeks to keep channels open to the North despite stalled dialogue.

The ping-pong match follows other recent displays of what officials have described as “soft diplomacy” between Tokyo and Seoul, including a joint drum performance by the two countries’ leaders earlier this month.