Next Month's South Korea-US-Japan Foreign Ministers Meeting Planned, Outcomes 'Uncertain'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Biden administration in the United States is reportedly planning to complete its review of North Korea policy next month and is pushing for a foreign ministers' meeting among the three countries of South Korea, the United States, and Japan for close consultation.

According to diplomatic circles on the 29th, the Biden administration is discussing holding a South Korea-US-Japan foreign ministers' meeting in late next month in Washington DC, USA.

In this regard, Japan's Kyodo News reported on the 28th from Washington, citing sources that the three countries are discussing holding a foreign ministers' meeting in the United States in late next month.

If this meeting is realized, it will be attended by Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong of South Korea, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu.

Diplomatic circles expect that at the trilateral security chiefs meeting among South Korea, the US, and Japan, held in Washington this week for the first time since the Biden administration took office, the finalized US North Korea policy will be discussed, and at the foreign ministers' meeting at the end of next month, concrete consultation and implementation plans regarding this finalized policy will be discussed.

In this regard, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a briefing on the 26th (local time), "We are discussing the North Korea policy review with security advisors from South Korea and Japan, and a trilateral dialogue among South Korea, the US, and Japan will be held next week," adding, "Those consultations are an important part of our review process."

This suggests that the trilateral consultations to be held in Washington later this week could be the final stage in deciding North Korea policy.

However, even if the South Korea-US-Japan foreign ministers' meeting is held as scheduled next month, concerns remain that it will be difficult to reach a common consensus on issues such as North Korean denuclearization, China, and North Korean human rights.

This is because the US is urging South Korea and Japan to improve relations and aims to use the trilateral framework, which has cooperated on North Korean issues, to check China, making it burdensome for the South Korean government to fully agree.

Moreover, some suggest that since the South Korea-Japan conflict over historical issues continues, consultations for holding this trilateral foreign ministers' meeting may face difficulties.

A diplomatic expert said, "As seen in Secretary Blinken's recent visits to South Korea and Japan, it will not be easy for the three countries to reach an agreement on North Korea and China issues," adding, "It is expected to be limited to sharing the US North Korea policy and confirming each other's opinions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.