Korea-US-Japan Joint Chiefs of Staff Discuss Cooperation Plans in Hawaii

Won In-cheol, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The chiefs of joint staffs from South Korea, the United States, and Japan will meet in Hawaii, USA, on the 30th (Korean time) to discuss security situations on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas, as well as cooperation measures.

Won In-chul, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea, will depart on the 28th to attend the Korea-US-Japan Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting (Tri-CHOD) held in Hawaii and the change of command ceremony of the US Indo-Pacific Command. The meeting will be attended by Chairman Won, US JCS Chairman Mark Milley, and Japan’s Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Koji Yamazaki.

The three chiefs are expected to exchange views on military cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan, North Korean developments, and security situations on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions during their meeting.

This face-to-face meeting of the Korea-US-Japan JCS chiefs is the first since the ceremony for Chairman Milley’s appointment in the US in October 2019. In November last year, the three chiefs held a video conference. At that time, the three countries agreed to continue efforts to address security concerns and expand multilateral cooperation to enhance peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. However, it is known that the Korean JCS Chairman and the Japan Self-Defense Forces Chief of Staff will not have a separate meeting in Hawaii.

Additionally, Chairman Won is scheduled to meet with the US Indo-Pacific Commander, Pacific Army Commander, Pacific Air Forces Commander, and Pacific Marine Corps Commander in Hawaii to discuss strengthening Korea-US military cooperation and key issues, according to the JCS. It is expected that they will exchange opinions on military issues such as the transfer of wartime operational control, Korea-US joint exercises, and the conditions for US Forces Korea training.

Indo-Pacific Commander Philip Davidson will retire after the change of command ceremony on the 30th (May 1 Korean time). His successor will be current Pacific Fleet Commander John Aquilino.