Photo: Lloyd Austin and the defense chiefs of Japan and South Korea
The United States, South Korea and Japan have agreed to conduct new trilateral joint exercises this summer, according to a joint statement issued Sunday, June 2, by the Pentagon following a meeting of the defense ministers of the three countries, reports Reuters.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara met on Sunday in Singapore on the sidelines of the annual security summit Shangri-La Dialogue. (Shangri-La Dialogue).
The parties “committed to continue strengthening trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” the statement noted.
The three countries also agreed to develop a Tripartite Security Cooperation Framework this year.
Top defense officials from the three countries condemned North Korea's recent launches of ballistic missiles and a reconnaissance satellite using ballistic technology missiles as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
On Sunday, June 2, South Korea said it would take action against North Korea for sending garbage balloons across the border.
South Korea condemned Pyongyang's cross-border balloon launches and GPS jamming as “irrational acts of provocation.”
The United States and South Korea confirmed that they would provide a coordinated response to any threats and provocations from North Korea, the document emphasizes .
Prepared by: Sergey Daga