Possibility of Joint Document on 'North Korea Denuclearization Cooperation' After US-Japan Summit

Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Between the Two Countries Expected to Be Included

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] There are prospects that the US and Japanese governments may announce a joint document containing cooperation on North Korea denuclearization and other matters following their summit on the 13th.

On the 8th, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported this. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to hold a summit with US President Joe Biden at the White House on the 13th and explain the contents of the three major security documents revised last month.

According to Yomiuri Shimbun, the US-Japan joint document is expected to include strengthening the US-Japan alliance, cooperation to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," close cooperation for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, joint defense of the Okinawa and Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyu Islands), and emphasis on the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

It was also reported that the document is likely to include content promoting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, such as linking critical technologies and the space sector from an economic security perspective. Earlier, on the 4th, the White House explained that the US-Japan summit would discuss not only bilateral military cooperation but also ways to strengthen trilateral military cooperation among the US, Japan, and South Korea. On the 11th, just before the summit, the two countries' foreign and defense ministers will hold a (2+2) meeting to discuss threats from North Korea and challenges from China.

Previously, on the 16th of last month, the Japanese government announced through the revision of security documents that it would possess "counterattack capabilities" to strike enemy bases and strengthen the defense of the Nansei Islands, which stretch from southern Kyushu to near Taiwan. The US government evaluated Japan's revision of the security documents as a "bold and historic move."