The following text was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Japan, and the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Vice Foreign Minister-Level Dialogue.
"We, the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, met in the Washington area on May 31, 2024, to carry forward the Spirit of Camp David. Together we reaffirm the importance of trilateral cooperation in seizing the opportunities of today and addressing the most difficult challenges we face as we look together to the future."
"We reaffirm our commitment to use our collective capacity to strengthen security and maintain peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. Our shared ambitions and values will continue to guide our efforts and bind us to increase prosperity while protecting democracy and defending the rules-based international system."
"Our trilateral partnership is essential to the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the waters of the Indo-Pacific and recognize the importance of opposing unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea. We committed to continuing our discussions on developing a Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation Framework to address multifaceted challenges in maritime domains, including maritime law enforcement based on a Letter of Intent signed by our countries' coast guards. We reaffirmed maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable for international community security and prosperity. There is no change in our basic positions on Taiwan, and we call for peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues."
"We shared common concerns about North Korea's (DPRK) increasingly destabilizing rhetoric and actions. We strongly condemned DPRK’s recent launches using ballistic missile technology, including a so-called 'military reconnaissance satellite,' which violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We reaffirmed our commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and call on DPRK to engage in substantive dialogue without preconditions. We committed to expanding our security cooperation to counter DPRK threats and strengthen regional security. The Deputy Secretary reiterated that U.S. commitments to Japan's and ROK's defense are ironclad, backed by full capabilities including nuclear deterrence."
"We expressed grave concerns about DPRK’s human rights violations and abuses, committing ourselves to immediate resolution for abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war issues. We also reaffirmed working together against DPRK’s illicit revenue generation and malicious cyber activities while supporting a unified Korean Peninsula free at peace."
"We shared concerns about deepening cooperation between DPRK and Russia, including arms transfers violating UN Security Council resolutions fueling Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. We committed closely coordinating support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure recovery efforts holding Russia accountable for its actions."
"In this year when all three nations serve on Security Council, we committed continued collaboration at Security Council UN General Assembly other multilateral fora protecting human rights bolstering democratic institutions promoting rule law."
"As dynamic economies globally imperative continuing investing one another’s prosperity deepening vibrant economic ties furthering these efforts committed strengthening economic security enhancing supply chain resilience through joint support Minerals Security Partnership projects discussed progress made through Trilateral Economic Security Dialogue accelerating cooperation critical emerging technologies encouraging relevant authorities advancing shared research projects noted launch new quantum workforce program IBM partnership with U.S., Korean Japanese universities training 40,000 students next decade."
"We welcomed upcoming launch Trilateral Technology Leaders Program hosted Johns Hopkins SAIS training mid-level policymakers from three countries critical policy areas including emerging technology governance semiconductors global supply chain issues collaborative human-AI problem-solving ethical biotech governance quantum technology cybersecurity challenges space."
"Alongside condolences loss life devastation caused landslide Papua New Guinea committed supporting rescue recovery efforts aiding people Papua New Guinea USAID providing field-level support last-mile humanitarian logistics distribution humanitarian assistance provided ROK Japan continuing coordinate humanitarian assistance disaster relief assisting affected communities."
"We strongly support themes Pacific Island Forum’s (PIF) 2050 Strategy Blue Pacific Continent reiterated dedication work closely Pacific Island countries PIF Partners Blue Pacific advancing shared objectives affirmed importance advancing secure resilient communications infrastructure committed supporting digital connectivity Pacific Islands."
"The strong political economic defense ties between three countries anchored sustained people-to-people connections educational professional exchanges vibrant cross-cultural influences sports arts entertainment further strengthening bonds friendship underscored support U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit held summer Busan subsequent youth summits establishing program regular part public diplomacy initiatives reaffirmed commitment advancing women’s economic empowerment home abroad participation 2024 Trilateral Conference Women’s Economic Empowerment held Washington summer."
"Building tremendous progress made under trilateral framework instructed teams expeditiously develop parameters trilateral coordinating mechanism further institutionalize cooperation conclusion dialogue committed holding next trilateral Vice Foreign Minister-Level Dialogue second half year Seoul looking forward next Trilateral Leaders Meeting later year."
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