KEY POINTS
- Japan, China, and South Korea agreed to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula
- The three nations agreed to push forward regional economic integration
- The foreign ministers agreed to resume free trade agreement negotiations
- The top diplomats discuss trade restrictions from the US
- Foreign ministers pledged to accelerate coordination for leaders’ summit
TOKYO, Japan: Japan, South Korea and China agreed Saturday that peace on the Korean peninsula is in the common interests of the three countries and their shared responsibility, Seoul’s top diplomat said, in a meeting of foreign ministers in which they pledged to promote cooperation.
The discussions underscored the shared responsibility of the three nations in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and fostering economic and diplomatic collaboration.
South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasised the importance of sustaining trilateral cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties.
“We reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is a shared interest and responsibility of the three countries,” Cho said during a joint press conference following the meeting, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of global challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and concerns over economic security in the face of potential trade restrictions from the United States.
North Korea’s role in regional security
The issue of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and military ties with Moscow featured prominently in the talks.
Cho warned against rewarding North Korea for its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting the necessity of enforcing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions.
“I emphasised that North Korea must not be rewarded for its wrong behaviour in the course of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine,” he said, calling for strict adherence to international sanctions.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said that Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile activities remained a significant regional threat.
“North Korea’s denuclearisation is our shared goal, and Japan is committed to fully implementing UNSC sanctions,” he said, stressing the importance of diplomatic coordination to curb the North’s provocations.
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for enhanced communication and trust among the three nations to ensure regional stability.
“We agreed to push forward with regional economic integration, including the resumption of free trade agreement negotiations,” Wang said, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Economic and diplomatic cooperation
The three nations also discussed ways to bolster economic cooperation, particularly in light of shifting global trade policies.
Wang expressed China’s interest in deepening trilateral economic collaboration and revisiting negotiations on a long-delayed free trade agreement.
At the meeting, the ministers also deliberated on key regional issues, including ageing populations, climate change, and natural disaster management.
Iwaya described the talks as an opportunity to “overcome division and confrontation through dialogue and cooperation.”
“The international situation has become increasingly severe, and it is no exaggeration to say that we are at a turning point in history,” Iwaya remarked, adding that collaboration between the three countries would be essential in navigating the challenges ahead.
Furthermore, discussions touched on Japan’s ongoing dispute with China over the import ban on Japanese seafood, imposed by Beijing following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
While no immediate resolution was announced, Wang reiterated China’s stance on food safety concerns, while Iwaya emphasised the scientific basis of Japan’s actions.
Push for trilateral leaders’ summit
A key outcome of the talks was a renewed commitment to holding a trilateral leaders’ summit at the earliest possible date.
“We agreed to accelerate coordination for the next summit,” Iwaya confirmed, noting that the previous summit in May 2023 had revived the momentum of trilateral engagement after a four-and-a-half-year hiatus.
Cho expressed optimism about maintaining high-level engagement, stating that ongoing global crises made such cooperation more crucial than ever.
“It’s timely and meaningful that today’s three-way talks are taking place in the context that we maintain the momentum of trilateral cooperation,” he said.
The last foreign ministers’ meeting had been held in Busan, South Korea, in November 2023, marking the resumption of regular dialogue after a prolonged pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
