The chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Korea, the United States, and Japan attended the 22nd Korea-U.S.-Japan Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting (Tri-CHOD) held on the 11th at the Yongsan Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters to discuss ways to strengthen security cooperation. This was the first time a face-to-face meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was held in Korea.

Army Chief of Staff Kim Myung-soo noted in his opening remarks that "the meeting being held in Korea as part of a rotation among the three countries itself demonstrates that Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation is being firmly established in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world" and emphasized, "In a situation where North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are escalating and there are persistent security challenges in the region, it is critically important to maintain the momentum of security cooperation among the three countries and to continuously develop it."

On the 11th, a meeting of the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States, and Japan is held at the Yongsan Joint Chiefs of Staff building in Seoul. /Courtesy of Joint Chiefs of Staff

He added, "Through today’s meeting, I hope that security cooperation between the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan will be further strengthened and develop in a future-oriented manner," and noted that "especially, the Japanese Chief of Staff has visited Korea for the first time in 15 years as a result of this meeting. This can be evaluated as a sign that Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation has matured and solidified much more than before."

Dan Caine, the U.S. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "We are entering a very significant phase in the history of each country," and added, "We are now lighting the way into the future together toward genuine burden sharing, not just limited to the North Korean threat." He further emphasized, "Now is the time to share data, learn from one another, and build trust," stating, "The key is to redefine deterrence, and for this, cooperation among the three countries is essential."

Yoshida, the Chief of Staff, mentioned the institutionalization of cooperation among the three countries that is unaffected by political situations, the strengthening of the bonds among the three countries to enhance deterrence against North Korea, and the collaboration of the three countries for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

At the meeting of the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States, and Japan held on the 11th at the Yongsan Joint Chiefs of Staff building in Seoul, Chairman Kim Myung-soo (center), Chairman Dan Caine (left), and Chief of Staff Yoshida Yoshihide take a commemorative photo. /Courtesy of Joint Chiefs of Staff

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