Seoul: South Korea, the United States, and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during their first high-level diplomatic talks since the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung government. The talks, lasting 40 minutes, involved First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, held on the sidelines of the foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to Yonhap News Agency, this meeting marked the first trilateral talks among senior diplomats from these nations since the leadership change in South Korea in early June. Park attended the ASEAN forum on behalf of the foreign minister, as the appointment process is ongoing. The discussions highlighted their commitment to maintaining strong deterrence through close trilateral coordination and enhancing security cooperation among the three countries.

Park elaborated on South Korea’s efforts to reduce inter-Korean tensions and resume dialogue with the North, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. Since taking office, Lee Jae Myung has advocated for open communication channels with North Korea to foster dialogue, while ensuring strong deterrence against nuclear and missile threats through the alliance with the U.S.

Park conveyed to Rubio and Iwaya that the trilateral talks demonstrate Seoul’s dedication to advancing partnerships with the U.S. and Japan under Lee’s “pragmatic” and “national interest-oriented” diplomacy. Park expressed optimism that the countries will maintain a united front and achieve tangible outcomes through their collaboration.

In addition to denuclearization, the three nations agreed to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and explored cooperation in areas like energy and shipbuilding. These sectors have been identified by U.S. President Donald Trump as having significant potential for collaboration with South Korea. Moreover, they pledged to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and to work together to ensure stability in supply chains, particularly for critical minerals.

The last trilateral talks among the top diplomats of these countries occurred in Brussels in April during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s foreign ministers’ meeting.