Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae, U.S. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie, and Japan Director General for Defense Policy Yamato Taro convened the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks in Seoul on September 10, 2024. They discussed shared regional security concerns and renewed their commitment to strengthening trilateral security cooperation following the Japan-ROK-U.S. Summits at Phnom Penh and Camp David and Trilateral Ministerial Meetings in Singapore and Tokyo this year.
The three defense officials acknowledged the progress made by the national defense authorities of the three countries over the past year since the historic Camp David Summit, and pledged to continue working closely together to strengthen trilateral security cooperation.
The three sides shared their views that the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF), signed by the Ministers and the Secretary of the three countries in July, institutionalizes progress made in the relationship thus far and will serve as a foundation to pursue trilateral security cooperation in a systematic and stable manner.
The three defense officials highlighted the successful efforts of their three countries in systematically conducting trilateral exercises in accordance with the multi-year trilateral exercise plan approved last year. They pledged to continue seeking various opportunities for future trilateral exercises and committed to updating the multi-year trilateral exercise plan by the end of this year.
The officials acknowledged that the first execution of the multi-domain trilateral exercise FREEDOM EDGE in June contributed to enhancing interoperability among the three countries and safeguarding freedom, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula. They also concurred to conduct a second FREEDOM EDGE exercise in due course.
The three sides reaffirmed their enduring commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond, including deterring Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) advancing nuclear and missile threats.
They expressed grave concern over increasing military cooperation between Russia and DPRK, highlighted by signing "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which contravenes multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The officials pledged stronger international community cooperation for implementing related UN resolutions.
Additionally, they condemned DPRK's diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests, launches of ballistic missiles, urging DPRK to cease destabilizing actions immediately.
The United States reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to ROK's and Japan's defense backed by full U.S. capabilities including nuclear ones.
All sides opposed unilateral status quo changes by force or coercion regionally. They assessed recent maritime/air military activities in Indo-Pacific including South China Sea; recalled respective positions against PRC’s aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims; stressed respecting navigation/overflight freedom per UNCLOS law principles.
They recognized unchanged basic positions on Taiwan emphasizing Taiwan Strait peace/stability importance for global security/prosperity; called peaceful cross-Strait issue resolution.
Officials welcomed holding next 16th Defense Trilateral Talks first half next year Japan.
###
