The United States, Japan, and South Korea released a joint statement announcing plans to discuss the regularization of missile defense and anti-submarine exercises to counter the ongoing nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea. The announcement was made during the 13th Defence Trilateral Talks held in Washington, D.C., where representatives from the three countries met to exchange assessments of the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and the wider region and to consult on ways to deepen trilateral security cooperation.
In the joint statement, the US, Japanese, and South Korean representatives emphasized the urgent need for the DPRK to immediately cease destabilizing activities. They also reaffirmed their stance that a DPRK nuclear test, if conducted, would be met with a solid and committed response from the international community. It is worth noting that the term “DPRK” refers to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
This announcement comes just after North Korea’s announcement on Friday that it had conducted a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, a development that experts warn could significantly increase the threat posed by North Korea’s missile arsenal. The test is set to “radically promote” its forces, making it easier for the country to launch missiles with little warning. The recent missile tests by North Korea have raised concerns among its neighbors and the international community, as they signal a clear disregard for UN sanctions and threaten regional stability.
Against this backdrop, the United States, Japan, and South Korea’s joint statement is a significant step toward addressing the North Korean threat. The regularization of missile defense and anti-submarine exercises will be a critical deterrent to North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile program. Moreover, the trilateral talks provide a platform for the US, Japan, and South Korea to deepen their security cooperation and develop concrete ways to respond to the current security challenges in the region.
