There will be dramatic changes in Seoul’s military and defense relations with Japan, Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesperson Kim Min-seok said at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.

The announcement follows a rare conversation held between the two countries’ defense ministers on January 8.

“(It was) virtually the first time a phone call over the hotline between the South Korean and Japanese defense ministers was held,” Kim said.

Kim added the talk is significant as South Korea has been in close contact with Japan and the U.S. over the North’s nuclear weapon and missile programs.

Just prior to the