Foreign Visits
Japan-U.S.-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
July 7, 2026
On July 7, commencing at 6:40 p.m. local time (0:40 a.m. on July 8, Japan time), for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, visiting Türkiye on the occasion of the NATO Summit, held a Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and signed the Memorandum of Cooperation on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Cooperation with the Honorable Marco Rubio, Secretary of State of the United States, and H.E. Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK.
- The three Ministers reaffirmed that, in light of the increasingly severe strategic environment that the three countries face, it remains important to strengthen the solidarity among the three countries and continue to show the strategic coordination of these alliances.
- The three Ministers discussed North Korea, and reaffirmed that they would further strengthen communication among the three countries. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. In Addition, they affirmed the importance of addressing North Korea’s malicious cyber-related activities, which fund its nuclear and missile programs, and concurred that they would continue to advance further initiatives. Foreign Minister Motegi expressed his appreciation for the consistent support from the governments of the U.S. and the ROK regarding the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
- The three Ministers exchanged their views on regional situations, including unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, and affirmed that the three countries would work closely together. They also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
- The three Ministers welcomed the concrete advancement of the trilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields, such as in security cooperation among defense authorities, and economic security cooperation, including enhancing supply chain resilience for critical minerals, and protecting and promoting critical and emerging technologies, including quantum and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and affirmed that they would expand the scope of the trilateral cooperation, including international disaster relief, through continuous action-oriented discussions.
- At this meeting, Foreign Minister MOTEGI, Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho signed the Japan-U.S.-ROK Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on small modular reactor (SMR) cooperation. This MOC aims to promote coordination among private sector stakeholders of the three countries regarding the deployment of SMRs in third-party countries and to enhance energy security in the Indo-Pacific region, while ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation.
(Reference)Memorandum of Cooperation on Small Modular Reactor Cooperation (Overview of Cooperation)
- To identify third-party countries (host countries) which are interested in SMRs in the Indo-Pacific region.
- To support the deployment of SMRs into industrial power generation facilities in host countries.
- For that purpose, as appropriate, to encourage the formation of consortia by the nuclear industries of Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea and to foster project development through mobilizing financing and investment.