The United States, South Korea and Japan jointly issued a stern warning against Russia, North Korea and Hamas – highlighting the expanding scope of the trilateral cooperation, as they address global security challenges that extend beyond Asia.
The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met in San Francisco Tuesday. The three called the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea a “serious threat to international peace and stability,” according to a statement from South Korea’s foreign ministry on Wednesday.
To counteract the move, the foreign ministers of the allies agreed to strengthen cooperation to block North Korea’s illegal cyber activities used for nuclear and missile funding, as they vowed to further solidify the ongoing enhancement of security cooperation among the three democratic nations.
The statement came as South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told its lawmakers in the National Assembly earlier this month that Russia has acquired over 1 million artillery shells from North Korea since August. In exchange, the North is most likely to have received technology transfer for what it claims as “satellite” launch from Russia, the spy agency said.
The development demonstrates the strengthening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow, underscored by the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia September.
The allies on Wednesday pledged to counter the intensifying cooperation between the authoritarian regimes through a “coordinated response with the international community,” underpinned by the close collaboration between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.
The South Korean foreign minister also indirectly criticized China during the meeting, reiterating Seoul’s “serious stance” on concerns about the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. Park “reaffirmed the commitment to enhance cooperation for the promotion of human rights in North Korea, including coordinated efforts in next year’s Security Council,” the statement added.
Recent media reports alleged that hundreds of North Korean defectors detained in China have been forcibly repatriated to North Korea. Human Rights Watch reported last month that Chinese authorities had forcibly returned over 500 North Koreans to the reclusive nation. The organization urged governments worldwide to condemn Beijing’s actions. Most of these North Koreans were civilians and religious figures who were arrested while attempting to travel to South Korea from China, Radio Free Asia has learned.
The allies also issued a joint criticism against Hamas. The ministers condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, urging for the “prompt release of hostages, and emphasizing the need for strict adherence to international law to protect civilians.” The three democratic nations also agreed to actively cooperate to resolve the crisis.
Hamas has used weapons sourced from the North and Iran to target Israel, the Israeli military said last month, supporting RFA’s earlier report on the alleged arms connection between the North and Hamas.
RFA reported on the potential use of North Korean weapons by Hamas militants. RFA’s thorough analysis was based on a video that displayed a man holding what seemed to be North Korean-made rocket launchers.
The expanded trilateral security cooperation to tackle global challenges was already reinforced on Monday, as the defense ministers of the U.S. and South Korea agreed to evolve their military alliance into a broader global partnership. The expansion hinted that the allies would counter not just threats from North Korea, but also to confront a range of issues that affect regional and global peace.
Such a move could be crucial for the U.S. in implementing its global strategy, especially in the face of complex challenges. In doing so, Washington may reinforce its strategic position and capabilities amid the security crisis in Europe and the Middle East.
The trilateral meeting took place ahead of the upcoming gathering of foreign ministers of China, South Korea and Japan in the South’s Busan city in less than two weeks – a move that could indicate Seoul and Tokyo’s diplomatic prioritization of ties and cooperation with Washington.
Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.