Presidential Office: "History of Korea-US-Japan Cooperation... Will Be Divided Before and After the 18th" (Comprehensive)

The First Ever Solo Korea-US-Japan Summit... Discussions on Security, Advanced Technology, and Supply Chains
Evolving into a Pan-Regional Cooperative Body Building 'Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity' in Regional Cooperation
'Principles' Guidelines for Korea-US-Japan Cooperation... 'Spirit' Vision and Implementation Plans for Trilateral Cooperation

The Presidential Office stated on the 18th (local time) regarding the Korea-US-Japan summit meeting held at Camp David in the United States, "This summit will serve as a focal point pursuing freedom, peace, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region," adding, "The history of security and economic cooperation among the three countries will be divided into before and after August 18." President Yoon is scheduled to depart for the US on the afternoon of the 17th, and as this is the first-ever Korea-US-Japan summit held solely among the three leaders, meaningful outcomes are expected in the three major areas of security, advanced technology, and supply chains.

Kim Eun-hye, the Chief of Public Relations, met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and conveyed the significance of this Korea-US-Japan summit, saying, "The Korea-US alliance can be explained through five themes: values, justice, peace, prosperity, and the future." She quoted President Yoon’s speech to the US Congress during his state visit in April, where he emphasized, "The Korea-US alliance is a value alliance based on universal values such as freedom, human rights, and democracy; it is an alliance of justice, peace, prosperity, and a future alliance moving forward."

Chief Kim said, "President Yoon’s steps, starting with the luncheon inviting independence activists and their families on the occasion of the August 15 Liberation Day, the meeting with key officials of the United Nations Command, the Liberation Day congratulatory speech, and now this Korea-US-Japan summit, are all connected," adding, "The Korea-US-Japan summit at Camp David will be the pinnacle of this journey."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Start of New Korea-US-Japan Cooperation System... "Aiming for a Comprehensive Cooperative Framework"

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, also emphasized the significance of the start of a 'new cooperation' system among the three countries. Deputy Director Kim explained, "Starting with this Camp David meeting, Korea-US-Japan cooperation will evolve from a regional cooperation focused on the North Korean threat on the Korean Peninsula to a broader regional cooperative framework establishing freedom, peace, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region," adding, "The areas of cooperation will also aim to be comprehensive, covering not only security but also economy, advanced technology, health, women, and human exchanges." He further added, "We expect that the security and economic cooperation, which had been pursued individually in the three bilateral relationships of Korea-US, Korea-Japan, and US-Japan, will now generate synergy at the trilateral level."

The key points to watch in this summit are the establishment of an evolved cooperative system in the three major areas of ▲security ▲advanced technology ▲supply chains. It is an opportunity to expand from bilateral cooperation among Korea-US, Korea-Japan, and US-Japan to a trilateral cooperation system. The White House also announced that it will unveil important initiatives to help strengthen trilateral cooperation through this summit.

Above all, in terms of security, the three countries will create the core framework for security cooperation, including trilateral cooperation on North Korea, and institutionalize it. Practical cooperation plans to jointly respond to North Korea’s nuclear missile threats are expected to be a major focus as a foundation to respond to regional common threats and ensure peace and safety. Regarding extended deterrence, the Presidential Office stated, "We are focusing on the early establishment and deepening discussions of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a bilateral Korea-US consultative body," drawing a line that it is not a trilateral discussion matter. However, considering the consistent and common security commitments of the US to Korea and Japan, strategic deterrence among the three countries may also be discussed.

Discussions on key emerging technology fields such as AI (artificial intelligence), quantum, and space, which will be future growth engines, are also anticipated. Outcomes for global standard formation, including joint research, are expected. Kurt Campbell, the White House National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Coordinator, emphasized on-site, "We will have extensive dialogues in advanced technology fields, and both Korea and Japan maintain a more unified front on technology-related issues than is generally known."

Strengthening partnerships for joint responses to supply chain and energy supply stability is also an expected outcome. Along with information sharing on trilateral supply chains, the establishment of an Early Warning System (EWS) will be discussed. President Yoon stated in an interview with Bloomberg News released the previous day, "We plan to further solidify the cooperative system to enhance the resilience of supply chains."

The US government, which invited the Korean and Japanese leaders, also expressed expectations. Coordinator Kirby said at a State Department briefing the previous day, "This summit will open a new era of trilateral cooperation," adding, "We will also focus on measures to maintain such progress, and through this, we will strive to further strengthen and improve trilateral cooperation in the future." He also hinted at future meetings after this summit. Coordinator Kirby explained, "It is unpredictable when the next trilateral summit will be held," but added, "There will be continued meetings, discussions, and opportunities for engagement among the three countries even after the summit."

Korea-US-Japan Leaders to Adopt Two Documents at Camp David: 'Camp David Principles' and 'Spirit of Camp David'

It is also significant that the summit has confirmed the adoption of two documents: the 'Camp David Principles' and the 'Spirit of Camp David.' While the Camp David Principles serve as guidelines for Korea-US-Japan cooperation, the Spirit of Camp David contains the vision for trilateral cooperation and specific implementation plans.

Deputy Director Kim introduced the Camp David Principles as "a document encapsulating the main principles of cooperation among the three countries by major themes," adding, "The three leaders will declare principles to strengthen cooperation for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, ASEAN, Pacific island countries, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world based on shared values and norms. They will also jointly respond to global issues such as economic norms, advanced technology, climate change development, and non-proliferation." Regarding the Spirit of Camp David, he explained, "It is a joint statement containing the shared vision and key outcomes of the Korea-US-Japan summit, consisting of the establishment of specific consultative bodies reflecting the shared vision, regional threats, extended deterrence and joint exercises, economic cooperation, and economic security."

On the background of adopting the Spirit of Camp David, he said, "It contains the vision and will to practice trilateral cooperation," adding, "The three leaders have reached a consensus on the inevitability of Korea-US-Japan cooperation in the face of complex crises such as intensified geopolitical competition, the Ukraine war, climate crisis, and nuclear proliferation, and have declared a new era of trilateral partnership."

He particularly emphasized, "As the name and content suggest, the Korea-US-Japan summit has the meaning of institutionalizing and solidifying the trilateral cooperation system." Although trilateral dialogues have continued for over 30 years, the sustainability of the dialogue was fragile due to domestic political situations and changes in foreign policy directions of the three countries, and the cooperation agenda was limited. However, recent improvements in trilateral relations have created synergy.

Deputy Director Kim also revealed that bilateral talks with the US and Japan will be held respectively on the occasion of this summit. However, a Presidential Office official mentioned in response to a question about whether the Fukushima contaminated water issue would be included in the Korea-Japan summit agenda, "The contaminated water issue will not be discussed in the Korea-Japan bilateral talks."

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