Japan, U.S., S. Korea Confirm Strengthening of Alliances

Munich, Feb. 15 (Jiji Press)--The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea on Saturday issued a joint statement underscoring the necessity of enhancing the strength of the Japan-U.S. and U.S.-South Korea alliances. 
 

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul issued the statement after they held a meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in the German city.
 

The three agreed that their countries will work together to bolster deterrence and response capabilities, including by conducting trilateral exercises. The United States reiterated its "ironclad commitments" to the defense of Japan and South Korea, the statement said.
 

It was the first meeting among the three countries' foreign ministers since the launch of the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump last month.
 

"We confirmed that our three countries will promote concrete cooperation to lead efforts for peace and prosperity in the region, including in dealing with North Korea," Iwaya told reporters after the three-way meeting.
 

Apparently mindful of China's increasingly hegemonic actions in the East and South China seas, Iwaya, Rubio and Cho "strongly opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," according to the joint statement.
 

Also touching on the Taiwan Strait, where China is stepping up its activities, the statement stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability there.
 

Elsewhere in the statement, the three reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, expressing their "serious concerns" over and the need to address together Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, malicious cyber activities including cryptocurrency thefts and increasing military cooperation with Russia. They also clarified their commitment to the "immediate resolution" of the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago.
 

Furthermore, the three agreed that the United States will increase exports of liquefied natural gas and that their countries will strengthen energy cooperation. They also agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum science and technology.
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