US Department of Defense: "Trilateral ROK-US-Japan Relations Crucial for International Security... Elevating to a New Level"

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the three countries of South Korea, the United States, and Japan will discuss ways to enhance military interoperability to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region at the trilateral summit on the 18th.

[Image source=Getty Images Yonhap News]

Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the Department of Defense, said during a briefing on the 17th (local time) in response to a question about the military significance of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit, "This historic meeting truly demonstrates how important this relationship is not only to our countries but also to international security."

He added, "We expect significant outcomes tomorrow (the 18th) that will solidify trilateral cooperation," emphasizing, "The results that come out tomorrow will elevate the trilateral relationship to a new level."

He continued, "We will continue to seek ways to work together to improve (the three countries' military) interoperability." However, he did not mention specific details regarding military exercises among the three countries.

When asked whether strengthening trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is aimed at China, Ryder responded, "It is not targeted at any particular country," adding, "If there are countries that apply coercion, provoke instability, or infringe on sovereignty, we want to cooperate to prevent such activities." He emphasized, "But we hope that all countries act responsibly and professionally to enable everyone in the region to live in peace and prosperity."

Regarding the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' (UFS) joint exercise that South Korea and the U.S. will conduct starting on the 21st, he mentioned its "defensive" nature, explaining, "Its purpose is to enable the fulfillment of our defense commitments to the alliance and to facilitate cooperation between South Korea and the U.S."

Ryder stated, "We will maintain strong communication with our allies South Korea and Japan, as well as other partners and allies in the region, to deter potential hostile acts and, more importantly, to ensure regional stability and security."

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