Japan's defense minister to skip annual security dialogue in Seoul after war shrine visit: sources

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is expected to skip an annual security forum in Seoul early next week, sources familiar with the matter said Friday, a move seen as related to his recent visit to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo that drew criticism from Seoul. Koizumi will not attend the Seoul Defense Dialogue, set for Monday through Wednesday, multiple sources told Yonhap News Agency. A vice defense minister from Tokyo will be present in his place, Seoul's defense ministry said. Ko