Japan, S.Korea and U.S. to Conduct Trilateral Defense Ministerial

The U.S. Department of Defense said today that defense officials from the U.S., Japan and South Korea will conduct a Trilateral Defense Ministerial soon.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Kim Man-gi, and Japanese Director General for Defense Policy Masuda Kazuo conducted a call today to discuss regional security affairs. The officials discussed the threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear missile programs, regional security, and concrete means of strengthening trilateral defense cooperation to bolster security.

Kim called for North Korea to halt activities that heighten tension and urged the regime to resume dialogue and take a diplomatic path.

Last Monday, Pyongyang tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM). It has conducted a record number of seven missile launches in the past month alone.

"North Korea's missile launches are a challenge to the international society's call for a diplomatic solution for the denuclearization, peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, and to the U.N. Security Council resolutions," Kim was quoted as saying by South Korea’s defense ministry.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken held bilateral discussions with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts last week week, while other top U.S. officials, including special representative for North Korea Sung Kim, engaged trilaterally with their South Korean and Japanese counterparts.

Blinken will host host Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong for a U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Ministerial Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 12. The government said the meeting was being held to address threats from the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs.