Cho Tae-yong, Korea-US-Japan 'Washington Talks' Expected Before September... "Shared Values of Independence"

Washington Summit of Korea-US-Japan "Date to be set during summer"
Regarding NCG Japan's participation, "Open... Need to establish Korea-US framework first"

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office, stated on the 23rd that regarding U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal for a 'South Korea-U.S.-Japan Washington Summit,' "there was a consensus and exchange of opinions to independently assign value and properly carry it out," expressing the view that a date will be set during the summer. In particular, concerning the possibility of Japan participating in the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), he set the condition that "it must first be established and a framework created between South Korea and the U.S."

Director Cho appeared on Yonhap News TV that afternoon and said about the timing of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan Washington summit, "I think the date will be set during this summer, before the multilateral summits begin in September."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, regarding the specific schedule, Director Cho explained, "No fixed date has been set yet," adding, "Each country has its domestic circumstances, and especially Japan has domestic issues." He continued, "The media reported that due to President Biden's quick return and the sudden visit of the Ukrainian president, the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit was held in an informal manner, so to supplement that, it was reported as 'Let's hold the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit in Washington,' but that is not the case," emphasizing this point.

He elaborated that the opinion to independently assign value through the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit was reflected, saying, "Based on this, we will hold the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit in the U.S."

Regarding the possibility of Japan participating in the NCG, he said it is "open," but emphasized that establishing the framework between South Korea and the U.S. is a priority. Director Cho stated, "The 'Washington Declaration' between the South Korean and U.S. presidents is the first and only agreement the U.S. has made with another country while operating its own nuclear weapons," adding, "The NCG itself must first be established and a framework created."

Concerning North Korea's schedule for launching the 'Military Reconnaissance Satellite No. 1,' he analyzed, "North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un announced it would be by the end of April, but they have not kept their promise," adding, "It seems there are various issues." He also forecasted, "There is a possibility of a launch in the near future," and predicted, "If that happens, we will see efforts and results to further deepen North Korea's diplomatic isolation in the international community."

Regarding the possibility that the U.S. may demand more South Korean participation in advanced technology sectors including semiconductors, he explained, "As allies, semiconductor and advanced technology cooperation must always be reciprocal," adding, "If we have to help the U.S., the U.S. must also help us." On the possibility of Chinese retaliation, he anticipated, "China will think twice before taking measures against our country, which has gained more presence and diplomatic ties."

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