The U.S., South Korea and Japan agreed to establish a trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership during foreign ministers’ talks in Atlanta on Friday, expanding cooperation into maritime safety, emergency response and potential economic activities. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ROK Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed a memorandum creating a working group to explore cooperation in the Pacific Arctic, although the agreement identifies no specific projects, funding commitments or implementation deadlines.

The ministers also reviewed ongoing cooperationon small modular nuclear reactors, supply chain security and emerging technologies, while reaffirming their commitment to North Korea’s