First Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Cho Hyundong, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today in Washington, D.C.
To further cooperation between the three nations on urgent global issues. As evidenced by their three vice-ministerial dialogues over the course of the previous year and numerous other coordination efforts. The Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the trilateral partnership, founded on their shared values and devoted to their shared security and prosperity.
The Phnom Penh Declaration on Trilateral Partnership for the Indo-Pacific, issued at the leader level in November 2022. As well as the September 2022 Joint Statement on the U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministerial served as a foundation for today’s discussion.
In the wake of the recent devastating earthquake, the Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers sent their sincere condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria. They also pledged to continue expanding on the emergency aid that their three nations had already provided.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) unauthorised ballistic missile launches, which reached an all-time high in 2022. As well as a flurry of conventional military action and its threat of additional destabilising actions, were strongly denounced by the Deputy Secretary and the Vice Ministers.
They reaffirmed their resolve to seeing the Korean Peninsula completely devoid of nuclear weapons. And urged all UN members to continuously carry out pertinent Security Council resolutions.
To confront the threat the DPRK poses to regional and international security, they vowed to further expand and diversify security cooperation. The Deputy Secretary underlined the U.S. commitment to deepen extended deterrence with Japan and the ROK. Stated once more that the U.S. pledges to defend Japan and the ROK are unwavering and supported by the full range of weapons, including nuclear.
The Vice Ministers and the Deputy Secretary denounced the DPRK’s increasingly bellicose language surrounding its nuclear programme. And urged it to immediately stop acting recklessly and uphold its commitments under all pertinent UN Security Council resolutions.
They urged the DPRK to resume talks and reaffirmed that constant communication is the only way to achieve peace and stability. To that purpose, the Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister Mori endorsed the “Audacious Initiative” of the ROK.
The Vice Ministers welcomed the appointment of the U.S. Special Envoy on DPRK Human Rights Issues in this context. The Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers expressed serious concern about the human rights situation in the DPRK and emphasised the necessity of strengthening cooperation to improve the situation.
Also, they agreed to cooperate in order to bring about a rapid resolution to the kidnapping problem and the immediate release of ROK citizens arrested.
The Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Pacific Island nations and the significance of cooperating with the Pacific Islands. In a transparent and efficient manner, as guided by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The ROK’s joining the partnership and the ROK’s intention to host the inaugural Korea-Pacific Islands Summit this year were both welcomed by Deputy Secretary Sherman and Vice Minister Mori. They committed themselves to working together, including through the Partners in the Blue Pacific.
In advance of the tenth Pacific Island Leaders Meeting, the Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister Cho praised Japan’s collaboration. With the Pacific Island nations on the next Ministerial Interim Meeting (PALM10).
The Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers further committed to utilising and enhancing the platforms and leadership mechanisms. Already in place to address urgent global challenges, such as the requirement to defend human rights, prevent the erosion of democracy. Ensure fair and open economic growth, and advance the economic empowerment of women worldwide.
The second Summit for Democracy’s regional co-hosting by the ROK is something that the Deputy Secretary and Vice Minister Mori supported. The necessity of strengthening trilateral development policy coordination, notably between USAID, JICA, and KOICA, discussed by the Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers.
They promised to work with international financial institutions to promote ethical and transparent development financing.
The forthcoming G7 Ministerial Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment will be held in Japan, which was praised for hosting the event by the Deputy Secretary and First Vice Minister Cho.
As a first step, they agreed to hold a trilateral dialogue between their respective national cancer centres to discuss areas of research and treatment.
That could specifically benefit from the combined expertise of the three nations. They also agreed to collaborate on a cancer moonshot initiative.
The Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers again emphasised how important U.S.-Japan-ROK collaboration is for both their respective countries. Common national interests and the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral collaboration will be further strengthened at the Deputy Secretary and Vice Ministers’ next meeting in the ROK.
