{"id":2205336,"date":"2024-06-03T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-02T23:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205336"},"modified":"2024-06-02T22:57:22","modified_gmt":"2024-06-02T13:57:22","slug":"u-s-south-korea-and-japan-institutionalize-partnership-amid-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/06\/u-s-south-korea-and-japan-institutionalize-partnership-amid-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S., South Korea and Japan institutionalize partnership amid challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"
The defense ministers of the U.S., South Korea and Japan agreed to <\/span>strengthen and institutionalize<\/span><\/a> trilateral security cooperation on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore on Sunday. They discussed regional security concerns, reviewed progress since the <\/span>Aug. 2023 Camp David Summit<\/span><\/a> and announced new initiatives such as enhanced missile warning data sharing, a multi-domain exercise called \u201c<\/span>Freedom Edge<\/span><\/a>,\u201d and plans to develop a trilateral security framework this year.<\/span><\/p>\n The three defense ministers \u2014 Lloyd Austin, Shin Won-sik and Kihara Minoru \u2014 condemned North Korea\u2019s recent missile tests and arms deals with Russia as violations of U.N. resolutions. They expressed support for the rules-based international order, opposed Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and raised concerns about China\u2019s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea. The leaders also recognized that their basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.<\/span><\/p>\n The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan, emphasizing its commitment is backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including conventional and nuclear.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Prior to the defense ministerial meeting, the three countries\u2019 deputy foreign ministers met in Virginia to discuss trilateral cooperation across various fields and regional and global security concerns and ensure continued strategic dialogue and collaboration. These moves aim to institutionalize trilateral cooperation and ensure that the partnership continues even after a change in government in any of the three countries.<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, Donald Trump could reverse the Biden administration\u2019s trilateral agenda if he wins the U.S. presidential election in November. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s approval rating <\/span>reached a new low<\/span><\/a> on Friday, and the main opposition Democratic Party has repeatedly criticized Yoon\u2019s efforts to improve ties with Japan as \u201csubservient.\u201d With the ruling People Power Party having suffered a landslide defeat last month, the party will likely be wary of supporting an unpopular president. Similarly, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also <\/span>unpopular<\/span><\/a>, and it is <\/span>unlikely<\/span><\/a> he can stay on as the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after his term ends in September.<\/span><\/p>\n