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According to the Pentagon, the United States, Japan, and South Korea have agreed to conduct new trilateral joint military exercises this summer. This decision was reached following a meeting of the three nations’ defense ministers on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.
The defense ministers – US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, and South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik – committed to enhancing trilateral cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region. They also agreed to establish a Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework within the year to institutionalize their defense collaboration efforts.
Today’s Trilateral Ministerial Meeting with Minister Shin and Minister Kihara demonstrated how the U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral relationship is crucial for Indo-Pacific peace, security, and deterrence.
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 2, 2024
And we’re going to keep making new strides together. pic.twitter.com/lShuN6FMoo
The defense officials strongly criticized North Korea’s recent ballistic missile tests and military satellite launch, deeming them violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The leaders also reiterated their commitment to countering North Korean nuclear and missile threats and emphasized the importance of complete denuclearization of the DPRK.
Additionally, the ministers condemned Russia’s recent actions and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, highlighting the significance of adhering to international law. They also expressed concerns about China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.