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US, South Korea, Japan Hold Surprise APEC Talks Amid North Korea Threats

The top diplomats from South Korea, the United States, and Japan surprised everyone by holding trilateral talks after initially canceling the meeting. This marked their first gathering since Japan's new government took office last week. They discussed maintaining cooperation despite US tariff pressures and North Korea's recent missile provocations. The meeting came just as North Korea announced it had test-fired strategic cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea.

Key Points: US South Korea Japan APEC Meeting After Earlier Cancellation

  • Meeting reversed earlier cancellation due to scheduling conflicts
  • First trilateral talks since Japan's new cabinet under PM Takaichi
  • Discussions focused on North Korea's recent missile launches
  • Cooperation tested by US tariff pressures and leadership changes
3 min read

Top diplomats of South Korea, US, Japan hold talks at APEC gathering

Top diplomats from US, South Korea and Japan hold unexpected trilateral talks at APEC, discussing North Korea missile threats and maintaining cooperation amid leadership changes.

"They decided to have the meeting in a pull-aside format - South Korean Foreign Ministry"

Gyeongju, Oct 29

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan had a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering Wednesday, reversing an earlier cancellation, the South Korean foreign ministry said.

The ministry announced hours earlier that the planned meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had been cancelled due to scheduling matters, Yonhap News Agency reported.

But they decided to have the meeting in a pull-aside format, the ministry said in a notice to the press.

The three-way talks mark their first since the launch of the new Japanese cabinet led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, elected last week. They also come after the summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump.

Lee is expected to hold bilateral talks with Takaichi on Thursday. Trump also had his first one-on-one meeting with the new Japanese leader in Tokyo before he headed to Korea for the APEC events.

The top diplomats were expected to use Wednesday's meeting to reaffirm their continued commitment to advancing their trilateral cooperation even after the leadership change in Japan and despite the US tariff pressure.

Questions have arisen over whether the trilateral cooperation framework, established under their preceding governments, would maintain momentum since Trump began his second term with a drive for the "America First" policy and aggressive tariffs on the US' two key Asian allies and others.

The outlook for relations between South Korean and Japan has become uncertain with the election of the first female leader, who is known for her hardline stance on issues stemming from Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The three sides are also expected to discuss North Korean issues, as Pyongyang continues its missile launches while remaining unresponsive to Trump's repeated overtures.

The North's state media said Wednesday it test-fired sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea the previous day, a provocation that came ahead of Trump's visit to South Korea for the APEC event.

Last week, the North said it conducted a test launch of what it claimed were two hypersonic projectiles that successfully hit the target points.

North Korea's evolving crypto thefts are also likely to be among the agenda items.

A trilateral meeting among Lee, Trump and Takaichi is unlikely to take place during this week's APEC forum, according to diplomatic sources.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
North Korea's missile tests are really concerning for the entire region. India should continue its balanced approach - maintaining relationships with all sides while ensuring our national security interests are protected.
A
Aditya G
The "America First" policy under Trump's second term is creating uncertainty for all US allies. While India has strong ties with the US, we need to be prepared for potential trade pressures too. Our diplomatic team must be working overtime!
S
Sarah B
Japan's first female PM and her hardline stance on colonial issues could really complicate Japan-South Korea relations. This might create opportunities for India to strengthen ties with both countries separately. Interesting times ahead!
M
Michael C
While these meetings are important, I wish there was more focus on economic cooperation rather than just security issues. APEC should be about trade and economic growth that benefits all countries in the region, including India.
K
Kavya N
The crypto thefts mentioned here are a growing concern worldwide. India should take note and strengthen our cybersecurity measures. Digital security is national security in today's world! 💻🔒

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