US Secretary of State Meets with Japanese Foreign Minister... Discusses Concerns over North Korea-Russia Cooperation

Bilateral Talks Held in Washington, D.C.
Discussion Includes China's Support for Russia's Defense Industry Base

Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed concerns about cooperation between North Korea and Russia during the U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting on the 21st (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced.

According to the State Department, Secretary Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya discussed concerns regarding North Korea's political and security ties with Russia during their bilateral meeting held at the State Department in Washington, D.C. on the same day. They also discussed China's support for Russia's defense industry base.

The State Department stated that Secretary Rubio outlined plans to deepen U.S.-Japan relations during the Trump administration and expressed joint efforts to address destabilizing actions by China, discussing ways the two countries can cooperate to respond to ongoing threats in the Indo-Pacific region and worldwide.

Secretary Rubio also emphasized the United States' continued efforts to make the U.S.-Japan alliance the cornerstone of regional security and prosperity.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a press release stating, "The two ministers agreed to elevate the U.S.-Japan alliance to an even higher level and cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, as well as to promote cooperation to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance."

They added that there was consensus on strengthening cooperation within frameworks such as the Quad (a security consultative body consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India), as well as trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan, and among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also introduced that they confirmed the importance of U.S.-Japan economic relations, including Japanese companies' investment in the U.S. and economic security, and exchanged views on the North Korean situation and challenges surrounding China.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The two foreign ministers agreed to continue close cooperation going forward to maintain and strengthen the unprecedentedly solid U.S.-Japan relationship."

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