Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is reportedly considering a visit to South Korea in early September.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun daily issued the report on Friday, citing multiple government sources. 

The visit, if realized, would mark the first official visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister in a decade, since 2015.

During a videoconference with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Thursday, Nakatani expressed his intention to visit South Korea.

He had initially planned to visit in December last year, but the trip was canceled due to the martial law situation in South Korea.

In Thursday’s video call, Nakatani conveyed his willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation and trilateral security cooperation with the United States and extended his congratulations to Minister Ahn on his appointment.