Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Cho Chang-rae of the Republic of Korea (ROK), U.S. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Cara Abercrombie, and Japan’s Director General for Defense Policy Yamato Taro convened the 15th Defense Trilateral Talks in Seoul on September 10, 2024. The meeting focused on shared regional security concerns and the commitment to strengthen trilateral security cooperation, building on recent summits and ministerial meetings held in Phnom Penh, Camp David, Singapore, and Tokyo.
The defense officials acknowledged the progress made since the historic Camp David Summit last year and pledged to continue working closely to enhance trilateral security ties. They highlighted the significance of the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF), signed by the defense ministers and the U.S. Secretary of Defense in July. This agreement institutionalizes the advancements in their relationship and serves as a foundation for pursuing systematic and stable trilateral security cooperation.
Emphasizing the importance of joint military readiness, the three sides noted the successful execution of trilateral exercises in accordance with the multi-year exercise plan approved last year. They committed to seeking additional opportunities for future trilateral exercises and agreed to update the exercise plan by the end of the year. Specifically, they highlighted the first execution of the multi-domain trilateral exercise FREEDOM EDGE in June, which enhanced interoperability among the three nations and contributed to safeguarding freedom, peace, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula. They concurred on conducting the second FREEDOM EDGE exercise in the near future.
The officials 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. They emphasized the need to deter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) advancing nuclear and missile threats. Expressing grave concern over the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly the signing of the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” they noted that such actions contradict multiple UN Security Council resolutions and are troubling developments for the region. The three defense officials pledged to work with the international community to enforce the implementation of related UN Security Council resolutions.
They also condemned North Korea’s recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles, and other related activities. The officials urged Pyongyang to immediately cease all actions that destabilize the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region. The United States reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan, emphasizing that this commitment is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear options.
All three sides expressed strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the region. They shared assessments on recent maritime and air military activities in the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea. The officials recalled their respective positions regarding dangerous and aggressive behavior by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) supporting unlawful maritime claims. They expressed concerns about actions inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and stressed the importance of fully respecting freedom of navigation and overflight.
The defense leaders recognized that there is no change in their basic positions on Taiwan and emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community. They called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.
Concluding the talks, the three officials welcomed the plan to hold the 16th Defense Trilateral Talks in the first half of next year in Japan. The continued dialogue underscores the commitment of South Korea, the United States, and Japan to collaborate closely on defense and security matters critical to regional and global stability.–News Desk