SEOUL: Senior diplomats from South Korea, the United States, and Japan have issued a strong condemnation of North Korea’s recent provocative actions, which include the destruction of cross-border roads and alleged drone surveillance. The condemnation came during a trilateral meeting in Seoul, underscoring a commitment to heightened three-way coordination in response to the North’s activities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting involved South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano. The diplomats expressed their alarm over North Korea’s latest moves, which they described as “deliberate acts of creating tensions.” This meeting followed North Korea’s unilateral action to blow up roads connecting it with the South, a significant escalation following accusations of drone flights over Pyongyang by South Korea.
Kim Hong-kyun, during a press conference, emphasized the need for a robust defense postur
e and enhanced security cooperation under the trilateral framework with the U.S. and Japan. He also highlighted the DPRK’s (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) continued nuclear and missile threats as central concerns that require continuous and coordinated responses.
Furthermore, the meeting addressed emerging threats beyond the Korean Peninsula, particularly North Korea’s suspected involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kurt Campbell noted reports of North Korean material support to Russia, including artillery shells and missiles, stressing the ongoing evaluation of these claims by the U.S. and its allies.
The diplomats also discussed plans for another trilateral summit to be held before the end of the year, aimed at further institutionalizing their cooperation framework. This follows a series of commitments made at the trilateral Camp David summit in August 2023, which set the stage for enhanced collaboration in response to shared threats.
The trilateral meeting concluded with a joint statement
reaffirming the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan and the establishment of a new joint monitoring mechanism for North Korean sanctions. This Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team aims to ensure comprehensive and effective implementation of sanctions against the North.
The recent developments mark a significant moment in regional politics, with North Korea’s actions drawing a unified response from its neighboring countries and their ally, the United States. The situation remains tense, with international eyes closely watching the unfolding events on the Korean Peninsula.