Press Releases
Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting
October 17, 2024
On October 16, His Excellency Mr. OKANO Masataka, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting with the Honorable Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, and His Excellency Mr. Kim HongKyun, 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Seoul, ROK. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
After the meeting, the Joint Statement on the Republic of Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting was released.
- The Vice Ministers and the Deputy Secretary confirmed advancement of the trilateral cooperation globally in a wide range of fields in a year since the Japan-U.S.-ROK Summit held at Camp David.
- They reiterated their shared view that North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities constitute a grave and imminent threat to the regional security and pose a clear and serious challenge to the international community. They also reaffirmed that they remain gravely concerned over the development of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Furthermore, they exchanged candid views on the current situation surrounding North Korea following its recent behavior and concurred that they will continue to coordinate their responses. Based on this recognition, they reaffirmed that they would continue to work closely together toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including through such measures as the enhancement of regional deterrence and response capabilities including their trilateral security cooperation, efforts with like-minded countries including the newly established Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), and undertakings at the UN Security Council. Vice Minister Okano asked for their continued understanding and cooperation, and expressed appreciation for gaining the consistent support from the governments of the U.S. and the ROK regarding the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
- They discussed the regional situation including in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and shared their recognition that any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force is unacceptable. Also, they reaffirmed the recognition of the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
- They concurred to advance their efforts toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” and to ensure peace and stability of the international community, through close coordination among Japan, U.S. and ROK.
- They made meaningful exchanges on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, and concurred to continue close coordination among Japan, U.S. and ROK.
- They also exchanged their views on economic security including enhancing supply chain resilience, and protecting and promoting critical and emerging technologies, and reaffirmed to advance the trilateral cooperation in these fields.
- They discussed the ways to advance the robust collaboration among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK, and concurred to accelerate their coordination to establish a trilateral coordinating mechanism.
(Reference)
Joint Statement on the Republic of Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting((PDF)