South Korea, US, and Japan Reaffirm Position That Trilateral Cooperation Is Essential for North Korea Nuclear Response

[Asia Economy Reporter Inho Yoo] South Korea, the United States, and Japan reaffirmed their position that trilateral cooperation is essential in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 3rd, Kim Gun, Head of the South Korea Peace Negotiation Headquarters, Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, and Takehiro Funakoshi, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a trilateral meeting of senior nuclear representatives for North Korea at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the same day.

Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, is heading to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd for the South Korea-U.S. senior officials' meeting on North Korea's nuclear issue. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

During the talks, which continued through lunch, the three representatives agreed that the close coordination on North Korea policy confirmed by the three leaders during U.S. President Joe Biden's visits to South Korea and Japan is continuing at all levels, and that trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is essential in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

This face-to-face meeting of the senior nuclear representatives of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan was the first in about four months since their meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, last February, and the first since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

They strongly condemned North Korea's recent series of missile launches as a serious provocation that clearly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also shared assessments of the possibility of additional provocations such as nuclear tests and discussed international community responses.

In this regard, it is believed that they focused on discussing coordinated measures to respond strongly if North Korea actually proceeds with a nuclear test.

Even if North Korea carries out additional provocations, it is difficult to pass new UN Security Council sanctions resolutions due to vetoes by China and Russia, so they likely exchanged views on pressure measures against North Korea not only through Security Council sanctions but also through trilateral or unilateral means.

The three representatives shared concerns about the COVID-19 situation in North Korea and expressed hope that North Korea would respond positively to offers of international assistance.

Representative Sung Kim also reiterated the U.S. government's position that denuclearization and humanitarian issues are separate.

In his opening remarks, Representative Sung Kim said, "The United States assesses that North Korea is preparing the Punggye-ri nuclear test site for a seventh nuclear test," and added, "We will be prepared for all scenarios through close cooperation with South Korea and Japan."

He continued, "To respond to North Korea's provocations, we are prepared to appropriately adjust our military readiness in the short and long term and to strengthen defense and deterrence capabilities to protect our alliances."

He emphasized, "The goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged," and stated, "North Korea's illegal and destabilizing actions will have consequences and will not be accepted by the international community as normal."

He also urged North Korea to respond positively to proposals for meetings without preconditions.

Head Kim also said in his opening remarks that trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is essential in responding to North Korea's challenges and that "considering the gravity of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, today's meeting is extremely timely."

Head Kim emphasized, "North Korea's persistent pursuit of nuclear weapons only leads to strengthening our deterrence," and added, "Ultimately, it will be against Pyongyang's interests." He warned, "It is a weakening of North Korea's own security, and deepening isolation will further worsen the already severe economic situation."

Japanese representative Director-General Funakoshi said, "In a situation where there is a possibility of additional provocations including nuclear tests, we need to have in-depth discussions on how we will respond to various scenarios," and expressed confidence that "trilateral cooperation will further advance together with South Korea's new government."

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