Seoul: The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States, and Japan held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, reversing an earlier cancellation, Seoul's foreign ministry confirmed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry had previously announced that the planned meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had been canceled due to scheduling issues. However, the diplomats decided to proceed with the meeting in a pull-aside format.
This meeting was the first since the inauguration of Japan's new cabinet under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, elected last week. It follows recent summit discussions between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. President Lee is scheduled to engage in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Takaichi, while President Trump held his initial one-on-one meeting with the Japanese leader in Tokyo before heading to Korea for the APEC events.
The diplomats aimed to reaffirm their commitment to trilateral cooperation despite the new Japanese leadership and ongoing U.S. tariff pressures. Concerns have been raised about whether the cooperation framework, established under previous administrations, would sustain its momentum amid President Trump's "America First" policy and tariff impositions on key Asian allies.
The election of Japan's first female leader, known for her hard-line stance on historical issues related to Japan's colonial rule over Korea, has introduced uncertainty into South Korea-Japan relations. North Korean issues were also expected to feature in the talks as Pyongyang continues missile launches while ignoring President Trump's diplomatic efforts.
North Korea's state media reported a test-firing of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea, coinciding with President Trump's visit to South Korea for the APEC event. Last week, North Korea claimed to have successfully tested two hypersonic projectiles.
North Korea's evolving cryptocurrency thefts were also anticipated to be discussed. However, a trilateral meeting among President Lee, President Trump, and Prime Minister Takaichi is not expected during this week's APEC forum.