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The Republic of Korea, the US, and Japan agreed to improve their defence exercise collaboration and share an “information hotline” after trilateral cooperation talks earlier this month.
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US President Joseph Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met at the Camp David Trilateral Summit on 18 August.
All three countries have since reportedly agreed to launch annual multidomain military exercises to improve trilateral defence cooperation, speed up information sharing on North Korea’s missile launches, and cyber activities to strengthen ballistic missile defence cooperation.
“The Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan proclaimed that we will bolster the rules-based international order and play key roles to enhance regional security and prosperity based on our shared values of freedom, human rights and rule of law,” President Yoon said through a translator.
“The stronger coordination between Korea, the US and Japan requires more robust institutional foundations.
“Moreover, challenges that threaten regional security must be addressed by us building a stronger commitment to working together.”
President Yoon said all three countries will broaden collaboration in the field of cutting-edge technologies, specifically in artificial intelligence, quantum, bio, next-generation telecommunications and space sectors.
His comments were echoed by Prime Minister Kishida, who announced that the trilateral strategic collaboration would bloom and blossom to raise the security coordination between Japan, ROK and the US to new heights.
“At this meeting, we agreed to hold the Japan-US-ROK multidomain joint exercises on an annual basis,” he said.
“Furthermore, regarding the real-time sharing of North Korea’s missile warning information that we agreed last November, the initial steps have been implemented and an important first step has been advanced towards the launch of the mechanism by the end of the year.
“We also agreed on the establishment of the working group on North Korea cyber activities, considered to be the source of finance for nuclear and missile development and on other matters.”
The leaders agreed to meet in person annually to build on agreements at the summit; foreign ministers, defence ministers and national security ministers will also meet at least annually. They also agreed to initiate an annual Assistant Secretary-led Indo-Pacific Dialogue.
US President Biden praised the Republic of Korea and Japan are capable and indispensable allies, as well as the announcement of a Supply Chain Early Warning System Pilot to provide an alert for disruptions of critical minerals.
“We’re called to lead in new ways to work together to stand together. And today, I’m proud to say our nations are answering that call,” he said.
“Critically, we’ve all committed to swiftly consult with each other in response to threats to any one of our countries from whatever source that occurs.
“That means we’ll have a hotline to share information and coordinate our responses whenever there is a crisis in the region or affecting any one of our countries.
“We’re going to continue to counter threats from [North Korea], including cryptocurrency money laundering to the tune of billions of dollars and potential arms transfer in support of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.
“Together, we’re going to stand up for international law, freedom of navigation and a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.”
It’s understood that information sharing would include activation of a data-sharing mechanism to exchange real-time missile warning data and improve mutual detection and assessment of DPRK missile launches by leveraging existing secure lines of communications.
Japan and the US have previously announced a Glide Phase Interceptor Cooperative Development program between the US Department of Defense and Japan Ministry of Defense.
The program would aim to develop counter-hypersonic capability for both countries to shield the US and Japan from the emergence of offensive hypersonic and other sophisticated missile capabilities for potential acts of coercion.
