Defense leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to step up cooperation. They’ve signed a memorandum to institutionalize trilateral security efforts such as information sharing and joint exercises.
Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik held talks in Japan on Sunday. The country hosted the three-way meeting for the first time.
Kihara said the trilateral cooperation is extremely important for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific and beyond amid the worsening security environment.
He said the talks would cover issues such as relations between North Korea and Russia, the East and South China seas, and ways to boost trilateral defense cooperation.
The defense leaders condemned North Korea’s launches of ballistic missiles and expressed concern over its increasing military cooperation with Russia.
They confirmed that they would hold the trilateral ministerial meeting on a regular basis to further develop cooperation and effectively cope with provocations and threats.
After the talks, they signed a memorandum to institutionalize cooperation. It calls for annual senior-level policy consultations, the sharing of real-time information about North Korea’s missile launches, and organized and effective implementation of joint drills.
Kihara told reporters that the memorandum is designed to document what the three countries have implemented and will continue to do in the future. He said the document has bolstered trilateral cooperation, enabling them to stand firm against various international changes. He said Japan will continue taking measures to strengthen cooperation based on the memorandum and contribute to regional peace and stability.