Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa will visit Seoul next week for talks with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-jin over agreements on mutual military support and the sharing of military secrets.
Seoul and Tokyo reportedly plan to sign the agreements this year. They would mark South Korea's first-ever military pacts with the former colonial power following several memorandums of understanding in the past.
![The Korean Navy and Japans Self-Defense Forces conduct a joint search and rescue drill in the sea between the two countries in June 2007.](http://english.chosun.com/site/data/img_dir/2011/01/05/2011010500384_0.jpg)
Military experts believe the aim is to deal with an emergency on the Korean Peninsula including the collapse of North Korea, but the Defense Ministry denies the plans.
Responding to a Japanese media report, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said, "We have not considered or discussed the new declaration with Japan." The Yomiuri Shimbun reported the two countries are preparing a joint declaration to be signed when President Lee Myung-bak visits Tokyo in the first half of this year.
Responding to a Japanese media report, a South Korean Foreign Ministry official said, "We have not considered or discussed the new declaration with Japan." The Yomiuri Shimbun reported the two countries are preparing a joint declaration to be signed when President Lee Myung-bak visits Tokyo in the first half of this year.
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