Overview

• South Korea and Australia's defense ministers discussed Seoul's potential participation in AUKUS Pillar 2, which involves sharing sophisticated military technologies.
• The AUKUS pact, primarily aimed at countering China's influence, may expand to include South Korea and Japan in its second phase.
• Defense Minister Shin Won-sik highlighted South Korea's strong technological capabilities as beneficial for the development of AUKUS Pillar 2.
• Japan is also moving towards formal discussions to join AUKUS Pillar 2, indicating a broader collaboration among allies.
• The U.S. plans to ease restrictions on technology transfers, potentially facilitating the inclusion of new members like South Korea in the AUKUS pact.