South Korea-US-Japan Foreign Ministers "Condemn North Korea Missile, Urge Halt to Illegal Activities and Dialogue"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] On the 12th (local time), the foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan condemned North Korea's successive ballistic missile shows of force and expressed concern. They emphasized that there is no hostile intent toward North Korea and urged North Korea to halt illegal activities such as missile test launches and to engage in dialogue.

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong of South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi held a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, and in a joint statement announced afterward, stated, "We condemn North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and express deep concern over these actions causing instability."

They further urged "the international community to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions related to North Korea" and called on "North Korea to cease illegal activities and come to the dialogue table."

In particular, they emphasized that "South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have no hostile intent toward North Korea and maintain an open stance toward meeting North Korea without preconditions." They added, "We pledge to closely cooperate trilaterally to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lasting peace."

While condemning North Korea's provocations such as successive ballistic missile test launches, nuclear tests, and indications of lifting the moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, they reiterated that there is no hostile intent toward North Korea and urged North Korea to promptly engage in dialogue.

This is the first face-to-face meeting of the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan since North Korea's ongoing missile test launches this year. It is also the first time in over two years since the January 2020 meeting in Palo Alto near San Francisco that they met at a separate time and place without a special occasion.

In the statement, they also "reconfirmed that the ROK-U.S. and U.S.-Japan alliances are essential for maintaining peace and stability in the region" and "promised to advance trilateral security cooperation in this regard."

They also "appreciated the frequent trilateral cooperation among each country's senior representatives on North Korea's nuclear issues" and "discussed the importance of family reunions for separated families in Korea and the prompt resolution of the abduction issue (of Japanese citizens by North Korea)."

They noted "shared concerns about actions undermining the rules-based international order and reaffirmed the aspiration for a peaceful and stable region where all countries can realize their potential."

They expressed "strong opposition to any unilateral actions that change the status quo and escalate tensions in the region," emphasizing "the importance of compliance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and reiterated long-standing support for international law."

In particular, they "emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

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