Korea-US-Japan Leaders Meet for First Time in 4 Years 9 Months... United in Strengthening North Korea Cooperation (Comprehensive)

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

President Yoon Suk-yeol is talking with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held on the 29th at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain. /

(Madrid, Spain = Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan) The keywords of the Korea-US-Japan summit held after 4 years and 9 months are 'North Korean threat' and 'strengthening cooperation.' The leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the North Korean nuclear issue, and agreed on the need to "strengthen cooperation." In particular, President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized, "The importance of Korea-US-Japan cooperation has increased as North Korea's nuclear missile threat has become more advanced and international instability has grown."

President Yoon, US 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' at the IFEMA Convention Center on the afternoon of the 29th (local time).

President Biden, who spoke first, emphasized, "The Korea-US-Japan trilateral cooperation is extremely important to achieve our common goals." This includes the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Biden said, "We have concerns that North Korea will continue nuclear tests." He added, "We reaffirm our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea," and stated, "We will hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine and cooperate with the international community."

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

Prime Minister Kishida expressed concern, saying, "The possibility of further provocations by North Korea is increasingly serious," and stated that "strengthening Korea-US-Japan cooperation is indispensable." Kishida added, "It is very timely that the Korea-US-Japan summit is held this time," and "We will strengthen Korea-US-Japan cooperation regarding North Korea's ballistic missile launches."

Some expect that since the Korea-US-Japan summit concluded with a shared recognition of 'strengthening cooperation on the North Korean nuclear issue,' a summit between Korea and Japan leaders may soon take place. Before the Korea-US-Japan summit, just prior to the Asia-Pacific Partner 4 (AP4) leaders' meeting, President Yoon told reporters about Prime Minister Kishida, "I have become confident that he can be a partner who can resolve Korea-Japan issues and develop bilateral relations for the future common interests of both countries." When asked about his first impression of Kishida, he said, "I had a brief conversation at the Spanish King's dinner yesterday and had a considerable amount of time at the Asia-Pacific 4 countries (AP4) meeting today."

The Korea and Japan leaders can also play a cooperative role regarding China, which is opposing attendance at the NATO summit. President Yoon, regarding China's opposition, said, "Rather than naming a specific country, NATO and Indo-Pacific countries must unite to create cooperation based on an order that respects norms emphasizing freedom, human rights, and the rule of law." He added, "The significance of attending this NATO meeting lies in this dimension." He also emphasized, "The concept of security has changed from political and military security to comprehensive security including economic security such as supply chains. Since the security situation in a specific region has global repercussions, there is now a consensus that security crises cannot be resolved by alliances in specific regions alone."