ROK-US-Japan: "North Korea-Russia Cooperation Threatens International Peace Beyond the Korean Peninsula"

Trilateral Ministers' Meeting in San Francisco, USA
Strengthening Security Cooperation and Close Economic and Supply Chain Ties

The foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan emphasized that the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses a serious threat to international peace and stability beyond the Korean Peninsula. They assessed that the security cooperation among the three countries to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats has been strengthened, and agreed to also enhance joint prosperity through economic security and supply chain cooperation.

On the 14th (local time), Foreign Minister Park Jin held a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, reaching a consensus on these matters. This ministers' meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting in San Francisco, USA. It was the sixth foreign ministers' meeting since the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, about two months after the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Park Jin (from left), Foreign Minister, Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, and Kamikawa Yoko, Japanese Foreign Minister, held a trilateral foreign ministers' meeting on the 14th (local time) at the Moscone Center conference hall in San Francisco. Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The three ministers agreed that the trilateral summit held at Camp David, USA, in August marked a historic turning point for South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation. They evaluated that the institutionalization of trilateral cooperation and various follow-up measures are being implemented swiftly under close cooperation among the three countries.

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan agreed to further strengthen cooperation to block North Korea's illicit cyber activities used to fund its nuclear and missile programs. The three ministers condemned Hamas's attack on Israel and called for the prompt release of hostages. They also emphasized that international law must be strictly observed to protect civilians.

Minister Park stressed the South Korean government's serious stance along with concerns regarding the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. The three ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation to improve human rights in North Korea and agreed to accelerate related cooperation, including coordination at the Security Council next year.

The three ministers exchanged views on major regional and international issues such as the Ukraine crisis. As the three countries will serve together as Security Council members starting next year, they agreed to cooperate more closely to address various regional and global challenges, including the North Korean issue.

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