US-ROK-Japan National Security Advisors "Deep Concern Over North Korea's Deployment to Russia... Military Cooperation Must Be Suspended"

Meeting in Washington DC, USA... Early Holding of Korea-US-Japan Summit

National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik, Japan's Takeo Akiba, Director of the National Security Bureau (center), and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (left) met on the 25th (local time) in Washington DC, USA, to discuss issues including North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia, the Presidential Office reported. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office of the Presidential Office, Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, and Akiba Takeo, Director of Japan’s National Security Bureau, held a trilateral security chiefs meeting in Washington DC on the 25th (local time) and expressed deep concern over North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia, urging the suspension of military cooperation.

The trilateral security chiefs issued a joint press statement on the 26th regarding the meeting results, stating, "We urge Russia and North Korea to cease such actions that extend the security implications of Russia’s brutal and illegal war beyond Europe to the Indo-Pacific region."

This meeting was the second since the trilateral summit at Camp David in August 2023 and the fifth since the Biden administration took office. The three security chiefs reaffirmed their commitment to addressing common regional and global threats and to promoting security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

In particular, the three security chiefs expressed deep concern about North Korea’s potential deployment of troops to the Ukrainian battlefield. They also assessed that "North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia exemplifies a troubling trend of deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including the transfer of weapons and ballistic missiles, which directly violates UN Security Council resolutions." Furthermore, they reaffirmed the firm trilateral commitment to assist Ukraine in defending itself, pledged to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, recovery, and reconstruction, and agreed to coordinate efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions.

The three security chiefs also reviewed the implementation status of various trilateral initiatives announced under the 'Camp David spirit.' They welcomed notable achievements over the past year, including the operation of the missile warning information-sharing system, the trilateral quantum education and training program, the launch of the first trilateral multi-domain exercise 'Freedom Edge,' and multi-year training plans. They also evaluated the numerous high-level trilateral consultations held this year, including the launch of the trilateral industrial ministers’ meeting, the first Japan-hosted trilateral defense ministers’ meeting, two trilateral foreign ministers’ meetings, and two trilateral deputy foreign ministers’ meetings.

The three security chiefs discussed measures to further strengthen trilateral cooperation, including securing critical mineral supply chains, expanding reliable communication networks in the Indo-Pacific region, improving coordination on maritime security, enhancing cybersecurity cooperation, and efforts to strengthen relations among the trilateral economic sectors.

National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik (right) and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met on the 25th (local time) in Washington DC to discuss South Korea-U.S. relations and North Korea issues, the Presidential Office reported.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

They also condemned North Korea’s illegal weapons transfers, malicious cyber activities, and dispatch of overseas workers to fund its illicit weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, and agreed to continue trilateral efforts to prevent these activities. The three security chiefs welcomed the recent launch of the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) in Seoul last week by the trilateral deputy foreign ministers and like-minded countries as a measure to restore a comprehensive and effective sanctions monitoring and reporting mechanism related to UN sanctions on North Korea. They clearly expressed support for President Yoon Suk-yeol’s vision for a free, peaceful, and prosperous Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed their support for a unified Korea.

The three security chiefs strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the Indo-Pacific waters and emphasized their commitment to the global maritime order based on international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including freedom of navigation and overflight. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and called for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in responding to cyber intrusion threats. Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, they urged all parties to reduce tensions and work toward a sustainable ceasefire. Additionally, they pledged to institutionalize efforts to create a new era of trilateral cooperation that will be a force for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, and committed to working toward holding the next trilateral summit at the earliest possible time.