Tokyo, March 22 – The foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan convened in Tokyo today for the 11th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, signaling a renewed commitment to regional cooperation and addressing pressing security concerns. The meeting, attended by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, focused on exploring avenues for collaboration and navigating shared challenges in the region.
Following the meeting, the three ministers jointly addressed the press, highlighting key outcomes and shared perspectives. Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized the consensus among the three nations regarding the shared interest and responsibility in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He underscored that issues pertaining to North Korea and the peninsula’s stability are intrinsically linked to the interests of all three countries, expressing hope for continued communication and collaboration on these matters.
We confirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a common interest and responsibility of the three countries, Minister Cho stated. The North Korean issue and the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula are issues related to South Korea, China, and Japan, and we expect the three countries to continue to maintain communication.
Specifically addressing the denuclearization of North Korea, Minister Cho stressed the importance of full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions. He urged North Korea to cease provocations and commit to complete denuclearization. Furthermore, he explicitly called for an immediate halt to illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, emphasizing that North Korea should not receive any compensation for its illicit activities during potential ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
I emphasized at the meeting that it is important for the three countries to faithfully implement UN Security Council resolutions while working to encourage North Korea to stop provocations and achieve complete denuclearization, Cho said. North Korea and Russia should immediately stop illegal military cooperation, and North Korea must not receive any reward for its illegal actions during the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations.
Beyond security concerns, the ministers also discussed avenues for trilateral cooperation in sustainable development and other areas of mutual interest. The meeting underscores the ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and collaboration among the three key players in Northeast Asia, despite existing geopolitical complexities.
The 11th ROK-China-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting serves as a crucial platform for addressing shared challenges and fostering cooperation in the region. The commitment to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, coupled with discussions on sustainable development, highlights the potential for trilateral collaboration to contribute to regional stability and prosperity.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, March 22). Detailed report: 11th ROK-China-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Tokyo.
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