Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“ROK, US, and Japan should be working in cooperation to establish peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia”

Face-to-face meeting of the ROK-US-Japan Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairpersons held in Hawaii

JCS Chairperson Won In-choul emphasized the importance of continuous cooperation

US reaffirmed commitment to providing extended deterrence by fully mobilizing capabilities

At the meeting of the ROK-US-Japan JCS Chairpersons, which was held in Hawaii on April 30 (Korean time), Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairperson Won In-choul emphasized that the Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States (US) and Japan should be cooperating to establish peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

The meeting was attended by US Indo-Pacific Commander John Acquilino, former US Indo-Pacific Commander Phil Davidson, and US Forces Japan Commander Kevin Schneider, as well as by US JCS Chairperson Mark Milley and Japan JCS Chairperson Koji Yamazaki. US Forces ROK Commander Robert Abrams joined the meeting through a video link.

This has been the first time the ROK-US-Japan JCS chairpersons had been able to discuss ways to cooperate in a face-to-face meeting since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ROK-US-Japan JCS chairpersons also met last November, but the meeting was held through a video link in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

During the meeting, the ROK-US-Japan JCS chairpersons shared concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile program, and discussed the importance of observing the rules-based international order. Responding to Won’s emphasis on trilateral cooperation, Milley reaffirmed the US’s ironclad commitment to defending both the ROK and Japan and the fact that the US is ready to provide extended deterrence by mobilizing all military capabilities. Yamazaki stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation for the complete implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution.

“They agreed to continuously strive to resolve the mutual security issue, and to widen multilateral cooperation in order to consolidate peace and stability in the region,” said a spokesperson of the JCS.

On May 1, Won reaffirmed a firm ROK-US alliance during the bilateral talks with his US counterpart Mark Milley, held on May 1. During the talks, Won and Milley shared opinions on the recent security situation, stressing that the ROK-US alliance serves as a ‘linchpin’ of security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The two chairpersons also discussed the US’s unwavering commitment to the ROK and the continued commitment to providing extended deterrence. Won and Milley vowed to further strengthen the ROK-US combined defense posture through cooperation with partner nations while reaffirming their commitment to security and stability in the region. Won will return home on May 3 after completing military diplomatic activities in Hawaii.

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr > 

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