Chairman Kim Myung-soo of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, and Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of Japan, visited the Naval Second Fleet Command on the 11th in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The command houses a memorial for the 46 service members of the Cheonan. Additionally, a trilateral air exercise among South Korea, the United States, and Japan was held in conjunction with the meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States, and Japan paid tribute to the 46 service members of the Cheonan who perished in a torpedo attack by North Korea on March 26, 2010, during their visit to the Naval Second Fleet Command. This tribute is interpreted as a message to jointly respond to North Korea's military threats.

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

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States, and Japan stated in a joint press release following their meeting that it is crucial for the three countries to collaborate closely to address security issues in the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region, and globally. They condemned North Korea's ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile development programs and mentioned cooperation for North Korea's denuclearization. Discussions also included the transfer of military technology from Russia to North Korea.

Moreover, on the same day, an air exercise was conducted in the southern ocean off Jeju Island with the participation of the U.S. B-52H strategic bomber. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the B-52H strategic bomber, along with South Korean Air Force KF-16 fighters and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighters, participated. This marks the first deployment of the B-52H strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula this year.

On the 11th, the Ministry of National Defense announces that it conducts air exercises with South Korea, the United States, and Japan over the southern sea off Jeju Island. /Courtesy of the Ministry of National Defense

The Ministry of National Defense said, "This exercise was conducted to enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of South Korea, the United States, and Japan against North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats," and added, "The three countries will continue trilateral training based on close coordination to deter North Korea's threats and respond together."

The 23rd meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States, and Japan will be held in the United States next year.

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