Japan, U.S. and South Korea are set to hold annual meetings to counter North Korea
Japan, the United States and South Korea are set to hold annual trilateral meetings (Photo: Getty Images)
According to Kyodo, representatives from Japan, the United States, and South Korea are set to hold annual trilateral meetings involving their foreign affairs and defense ministers.
On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will sign an agreement that formalizes a prior understanding to hold trilateral summits at least once a year.
This move comes as the three nations seek to enhance cooperation in countering missile and nuclear threats from North Korea, as well as China's aggressive military actions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Sources indicate that the three countries are also pursuing regular meetings among high-ranking officials responsible for national security.
The allies are also exploring the possibility of establishing working-level trilateral advisory bodies on issues such as artificial intelligence, economic security, and cybersecurity.
The leaders' meeting marks a new format for the summit, as their previous discussions have typically occurred on the sidelines of international gatherings.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan summit
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden, and South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol will convene for the first time in a trilateral summit format on August 18 in Washington. There, they will discuss the situation in East Asia, considering China's actions and North Korea's nuclear and missile rhetoric.
The leaders of these countries plan to issue a joint statement regarding the situation in Taiwan during the Washington summit.
