US-Japan-South Korea Deputy Foreign Ministers, "Unprecedented Strong Response if North Korea Conducts 7th Nuclear Test" (Summary)

On the Morning of the 26th, Japan Tokyo Hosts ROK-US-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Discussing Trilateral Cooperation on North Korea Nuclear Response Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The deputy foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan agreed on the 26th that an unprecedentedly strong response would be necessary if North Korea conducts its 7th nuclear test.

At the Korea-US-Japan deputy foreign ministers' meeting held that morning at the Ikura Residence in Tokyo, Cho Hyun-dong, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Wendy Sherman, US Deputy Secretary of State, and Takeo Mori, Administrative Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended.

This Korea-US-Japan deputy foreign ministers' meeting was held four months after the last one in Seoul in June.

The three countries discussed cooperation measures against North Korea, including recent tactical nuclear threats directed at South Korea and Japan.

Earlier, on the 24th (local time), the US State Department announced the holding of the Korea-US-Japan deputy foreign ministers' meeting and stated that the three countries shared concerns about North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches.

After the meeting, Vice Minister Cho said at a joint press conference, "In a situation where North Korea is adopting an offensive nuclear force policy and increasing threats to use nuclear weapons, the three countries agreed to maintain close cooperation," adding, "In particular, the three countries agreed that if North Korea ultimately conducts the 7th nuclear test, an unprecedentedly strong response will be necessary."

He emphasized, "A series of provocations such as North Korea's recent missile launches have greatly increased instability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the Indo-Pacific region," and added, "Our (South Korean) government will strengthen deterrence against North Korea with overwhelming capabilities through the Korea-US combined defense posture and Korea-US-Japan security cooperation so that our people can live their daily lives with peace of mind."

He further stated, "If North Korea makes a decision to denuclearize and comes to the dialogue table, we will provide full political and economic support through bold initiatives," and added, "(The three countries) also agreed to further strengthen cooperation with the international community to ensure that North Korea immediately stops illegal actions and returns to the denuclearization dialogue table."

Deputy Secretary Sherman also pointed out, "This year, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles at an unprecedented frequency, one of which passed over Japanese airspace, posing a serious threat to the Japanese people," and added, "What is more problematic is that North Korea recently defined these launches as preparations for the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons."

Vice Minister Mori explained, "(The Korea-US-Japan) shared the recognition again that North Korea's enhanced nuclear and missile activities are a clear and serious challenge to the international community," and added, "We decided to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the US-Japan alliance and the Korea-US alliance and to promote security cooperation among the three countries."

In addition to countermeasures against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the Korea-US-Japan deputy foreign ministers also sought trilateral cooperation on issues such as the Taiwan Strait and the Ukraine situation.

Deputy Secretary Sherman said, "We (Korea, US, Japan) all agreed on the need for peace in the Taiwan Strait," and added, "We will cooperate with Japan and South Korea to guarantee Taiwan's self-defense."

She also mentioned discussing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and condemned Russia's annexation of parts of Ukraine as a violation of the UN Charter.

Vice Minister Mori said, "We also agreed that China's actions in the East and South China Seas have not changed," and added, "We reaffirmed the recognition that unilateral changes to the status quo by force are not allowed."

The next trilateral meeting is scheduled to be held in the United States in the first quarter (January to March) of next year.

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