South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued a joint statement commemorating the historic summit held at the U.S. presidential retreat in Maryland on Aug. 18, 2023.
“We stand by our commitment to consult on regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting our collective interests and security,” they said in the statement.
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the alignment of their shared economic and technological priorities and expanding people-to-people ties.
The 2023 summit generated a series of agreements to expand trilateral security and economic ties, including crisis consultations, joint military exercises and information sharing, in the face of North Korea’s military threats and China’s growing clout in the region.
“The spirit of the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit continues to inspire us, and the principles we established at Camp David serve as a roadmap for our unparalleled cooperation,” the statement said.
The leaders praised key achievements, including the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework signed by the three countries’ defense chiefs on July 28 and the inaugural execution of a trilateral multidomain exercise, called Freedom Edge, in late June.
The statement also noted progress made by a trilateral working group in combating North Korea's efforts to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction programs through cybercrime and other illicit means.
“We are resolved to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, remain aligned in our shared vision and stand ready to meet the world’s greatest challenges,” they said.
The statement came amid growing tensions ahead of annual joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S.
The two sides are scheduled to begin the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise Monday, which will include computer-simulated command post exercises and concurrent field maneuvers.
Pyongyang has denounced the allies' exercises as invasion rehearsals. It test-fired ballistic missiles during last year’s Ulchi Freedom Shield drills.
