Login
iscover
Early warning missile data information sharing between Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America will be available before the end of the year, according to US officials.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The schedule was announced after all three countries completed a trilateral phone call on 7 September. The call was organised between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III, Japan Minister of Defense Yasukazu Hamada, and ROK Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-Sup.
Earlier this year, the countries sent their respective leaders to discuss defence and security cooperation during a summit at Camp David in August.
“The officials highlighted ongoing trilateral efforts by the United States, the ROK, and Japan to fully operationalise early warning missile data information sharing this year, to build and implement a multi-year exercise plan, and to enhance coordination of activities to address regional security challenges,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder, regarding the call on 7 September.
“The secretary affirmed the ironclad US extended deterrence commitment to Japan and the Republic of Korea.
“The leaders also discussed and strongly condemned North Korea’s August 24 attempted space launch using ballistic missile technology as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”
The region is in a period of increasing tension after the US military and allies held joint military exercises last month and North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles during weapons testing at the same time.
The United States is already on a diplomatic campaign in the Indo-Pacific as it steps up near-peer competition with North Korean ally, the People’s Republic of China.
Earlier this month, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner said the country is undertaking a number of activities to lead a more distributed mobile, resilient, and lethal force posture in the region.
“We are delivering on our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific and absolutely strengthening deterrence in the region,” Assistant Secretary Ratner said.
“US military-to-military relations between the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the other countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are stronger than they had ever been.”
