Quad Summit "Agreement on Cooperation for North Korea Denuclearization... No Change of Status by Force" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] At the Quad summit meeting consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on the 24th that they agreed to work toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea. The four Quad countries stated, "We will not allow any change of the status quo by force," while checking China and deciding to invest more than $50 billion (about 63 trillion KRW) in infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to NHK and other broadcasts, Prime Minister Kishida said at a press conference after the Quad summit held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo that "We also discussed North Korea, which has continued to launch ballistic missiles this month and is actively conducting nuclear and missile activities, and agreed on cooperation for the complete denuclearization of North Korea."

Prime Minister Kishida also introduced that "There was a discussion about ensuring that no geographical gaps are created regarding the worsening COVID-19 infection situation in North Korea." He added that the four leaders also shared the view that the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea needs to be resolved immediately.

The four Quad leaders shared the recognition that unilateral changes to the status quo by force, keeping in mind China amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, must not be allowed in any region, and Prime Minister Kishida said they agreed to strengthen cooperation among the four countries in this regard.

Prime Minister Kishida emphasized that they frankly discussed the impact of the Ukraine situation on the Indo-Pacific region, with India also participating to express concerns about the war in Ukraine, and confirmed that the principles of the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity must be upheld in any region.

Furthermore, the four leaders agreed to provide satellite information to the Indo-Pacific region to support each country's disaster prevention and response to climate change. The Quad leaders also decided to invest more than $50 billion over the next five years in infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region and support developing countries facing debt issues.

The in-person Quad summit meeting was held for the first time in eight months since September 24 last year in Washington DC, USA. Along with Prime Minister Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended in person.