The Japanese Defence Minister is in South Korea for talks that could move the two countries closer to their first defence cooperation treaty since 1945. Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and his South Korean counterpart, Kim Kwan-jin are meeting today to discuss closer cooperation in the light of North Korean actions, including a fatal attack on a South Korean island in November. The two pending agreements permitting exchanges of intelligence and military goods are also expected to come up for discussion.