Manila, Sept. 10 -- The top defense officials of the Philippines and Japan discussed the importance of maritime cooperation amid regional challenges during a meeting in South Korea on Tuesday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said the meeting between Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen took place on the sidelines of the recently concluded Seoul Defense Dialogue.

"The two leaders emphasized that maritime cooperation remains crucial amidst evolving regional security challenges," the DND said.

Teodoro and Nakatani also "highlighted the importance of strengthening the Philippines' defense capabilities in air and maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity, and communic...