Camp David Summit 1st Anniversary Joint Statement
Leaders of Three Nations Pledge to Maintain Peace and Stability in Indo-Pacific Region
"Commitment to Uphold Promises Against Regional Challenges, Provocations, and Threats"
President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued a joint statement on the 18th to commemorate the first anniversary of the Camp David trilateral summit held in 2023. The photo shows President Yoon Suk-yeol speaking at the joint press conference of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan leaders held at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat near Washington D.C., on August 18, 2023 (local time). From left to right: President Yoon, President Biden, and Prime Minister Kishida.
[Photo by Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joseph Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio adopted a joint statement on the 18th to mark the first anniversary of the 'Camp David Summit' and reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation.
In the joint statement released that day, the leaders of Korea, the U.S., and Japan said, "We commemorate the remarkable progress made in trilateral cooperation over the past year since our historic summit," adding, "The spirit of the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit continues to inspire us, and the principles we established at Camp David serve as a roadmap for our unprecedented cooperation."
The three leaders mentioned that they are working together to achieve the common goal of advancing regional and global security and prosperity, and pledged, "We will uphold our commitment to consultations on regional challenges, provocations, and threats that affect our shared interests and security."
They further emphasized, "We reaffirm our determination to enhance security cooperation linked by the ironclad Korea-U.S. and U.S.-Japan alliances, further align our shared economic and technological priorities, promote cooperation to advance global health initiatives, and expand strong people-to-people ties."
"Enhancing Security Cooperation through the Ironclad Korea-U.S. and U.S.-Japan Alliances"
On August 18, 2023, President Yoon, U.S. President Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida posed for a commemorative photo in front of Laurel Lodge ahead of the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit held at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat near Washington, D.C. on August 18, 2023 (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]
They explained that over the past year since the Camp David meeting last August, close consultations and cooperation on priorities in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond have clearly demonstrated the unwavering commitment of the three leaders to common goals.
The Korea-U.S.-Japan leaders said, "We celebrate the achievements of trilateral cooperation, including the first-ever trilateral multi-domain exercise Freedom Edge, the signing of a new Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation framework, and progress made by the trilateral working group focused on responding to North Korea’s cybercrimes and attempts to fund its weapons of mass destruction programs through other illicit means."
They also stated, "We are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, continuing solidarity on our shared vision, and are prepared to face the world’s greatest challenges. We hold an unwavering belief that cooperation among the Republic of Korea, the United States of America, and Japan is indispensable to responding to today’s challenges and laying the foundation for a prosperous future."
The Presidential Office added, "Through this joint statement, the three leaders once again confirmed the historic significance of the Camp David summit and their firm commitment to Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation," and "Our government will continue to faithfully implement follow-up measures from the Camp David summit and further strengthen trilateral cooperation."
Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on the achievements of trilateral cooperation among Korea, the United States, and Japan on the first anniversary of the Camp David Summit and other current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 18th. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In particular, the Presidential Office emphasized that since the Camp David summit, Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation has developed to an unprecedented level, increasing tangible benefits for the people through strengthened trilateral cooperation, and contributing to enhancing the status of the three countries as global pivotal states.
Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, held a briefing in the afternoon at the Yongsan Presidential Office briefing room in Seoul regarding the major achievements of Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation on the first anniversary of Camp David, stating, "We are expanding the geographical scope of cooperation beyond the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region to the global arena, overcoming challenges faced by the world together as three countries, and will continue to contribute to international peace and prosperity."
Presidential Office: "Increased Tangible Benefits for the People through Korea-U.S.-Japan Cooperation"
Deputy Director Kim explained, "Today, the three leaders evaluated the achievements of the past year and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation going forward," adding, "Over the past year, the summit has been institutionalized annually, and communication among foreign and defense ministers has also been regularized, with annual meetings launched among finance and industry ministers as well."
He elaborated, "The scope of cooperation, which was previously limited to security, has evolved into a comprehensive cooperation stage covering cyber development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges," noting, "In December last year, a real-time sharing system for North Korean missile warning information was launched, and in June, the first multi-domain exercise, ‘Freedom Edge,’ was conducted."
He continued, "Beyond security, active promotion of people-to-people exchanges has been pursued," emphasizing, "There have been two trilateral economic security dialogues, and an early warning system among the three countries’ diplomatic missions is being established amid global security instability such as in Ukraine. This is trilateral cooperation for stabilizing global supply chains."
Deputy Director Kim assessed, "We have realized space security and signed a memorandum of understanding on quantum cooperation among universities in Korea, the U.S., and Japan," adding, "With the Korea-U.S.-Japan Global Leadership Youth Summit held in July this year, exchanges among future generations are also actively taking place."
President Yoon, U.S. President Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida walking together along a trail on August 18, 2023 (local time) near Washington DC at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat, for the Korea-U.S.-Japan joint press conference. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Presidential Office reiterated that support for the Camp David summit agreement among Korea, the U.S., and Japan remains firm even amid leadership changes in the U.S. and Japan.
A senior official from the Presidential Office told reporters in the afternoon, "There is the U.S. presidential election coming in November, and the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election in Japan next month, so the three main figures who established Camp David cannot remain in their positions forever," adding, "Nevertheless, President Yoon is expected to maintain friendship and camaraderie with President Joe Biden and encourage the implementation process of Camp David cooperation."
He continued, "The same applies to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio," explaining, "Both the Japanese and American political circles, regardless of party, highly value the Korea-U.S. alliance, Korea-Japan relations, and the significance of Camp David, so support for Camp David can be considered firm."
Korea-U.S.-Japan Leaders to Meet Within the Year
Additionally, the Presidential Office hinted at the possibility of a Korea-U.S.-Japan summit meeting being held within the year.
An official from the Presidential Office said, "There were two Korea-U.S.-Japan summit meetings last year, but considering the political situations in the three countries this year, none have been held yet," adding, "We expect opportunities for the three leaders to meet during two or three international meetings in the second half of the year."
The official elaborated, "There is a shared hope that a trilateral summit will be held at least once this year, but the specific timing is still in the early stages of discussion."
Multilateral summits scheduled for the second half of this year include the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September, the Korea-ASEAN summit in Laos in early October, and the APEC summit in Peru and the G20 summit in Brazil in November.
Regarding the omission of President Yoon’s '8.15 Unification Doctrine' in the statement, the Presidential Office explained, "The U.S. and Japanese governments have already expressed support and expectations for President Yoon’s unification doctrine," adding, "This first anniversary congratulatory statement focused on outlining the overall framework, evaluating the large-scale implementation process, and reaffirming future visions, without addressing detailed current issues."
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