Korea-US-Japan Leaders United in Strengthening North Korea Coordination (Update)

President Yoon: "North Korea's Nuclear and Missile Advancement... The Importance of ROK-US-Japan Cooperation Grows Even More"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

(Madrid, Spain = Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan) The leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan, who gathered together for the first time in 4 years and 9 months, agreed to strengthen cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized, "In a situation where North Korea's nuclear missile threats are becoming more advanced and international instability is increasing, the importance of South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation has grown even more."

President Yoon, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who gathered in Madrid, Spain to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, held a "trilateral summit" on the afternoon of the 29th (local time).

President Biden, who spoke first, said, "The trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is very important to achieving our common goals," adding, "This includes the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a free and open Indo-Pacific region." He particularly emphasized, "We are concerned that North Korea will continue to conduct nuclear tests," and "I want to reaffirm our commitment to the defense of South Korea."

Following this, President Yoon stated, "In a situation where North Korea's nuclear and missile threats have become more advanced and international instability has increased, the importance of South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation has grown even more," adding, "Since this is the first South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held in about five years, it shows the will to strengthen trilateral cooperation to resolve regional and global issues." He also said, "I hope that through today's meeting, South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation can establish itself as an important axis for world peace and stability."

Lastly, Prime Minister Kishida said, "The possibility of further provocations by North Korea is becoming increasingly serious," and "Strengthening South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation is indispensable." He added, "The holding of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit this time is very timely," and "We will strengthen trilateral cooperation regarding North Korea's ballistic missile launches."