The authorities of South Korea and Japan are holding talks at the level of deputy defense ministers for the first time in six years, as the two countries seek to strengthen security cooperation against growing military threats from North Korea.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense said in a statement that “South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Shin Bum-chul and Japanese Deputy Defense Minister for International Affairs Masami Oka will hold a meeting tomorrow, Wednesday.” She noted that “both sides are expected to discuss a number of outstanding issues.”

North Korea has fired a record number of missiles this year, and officials in Seoul and Washington say it looks set to test a nuclear weapon for the first time since 2017 amid stalled denuclearization talks.

A few days ago, South Korea said it was “aiming for a 4.6% year-on-year increase in its defense budget next year, with a focus on strengthening its core deterrent to counter nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.”

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has also requested a record budget allocation for the next fiscal year of around $40 billion as part of its efforts to boost the nation’s defense capability.