Trilateral cooperation should be bolstered to address challenges

South Korea, the United States and Japan renewed their commitment to cooperation, Sunday, strengthening the agreement they had reached a year earlier during summit meetings at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat. To commemorate the first anniversary of the summit, leaders from the three nations released a joint statement, in which they celebrated the successes and accomplishments of the past year.

The summit brought together top political leaders: President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Concluding the historic summit, they adopted three key documents, including the Camp David Principles, which marked the start of a new era in their trilateral partnership. The joint statement underscored the crucial need for continued trilateral cooperation to address current challenges, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing security collaboration and strengthening their partnership. “We stand by o
ur commitment to consult on regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting our collective interests and security,” reads the statement.

The recent adoption of the joint statement is timely, given the escalating tensions and security challenges surrounding the Korean Peninsula. North Korea and Russia have significantly ramped up their military cooperation, effectively forming a powerful alliance. In addition, North Korea has persistently carried out provocations and attempted to intimidate South Korea, most recently by launching trash-filled balloons.

There is speculation that North Korea might carry out military provocations in October, potentially before the U.S. presidential election in November. These provocations could include conducting a nuclear test or launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over Japan. In light of the urgent need to manage security on the peninsula and reduce military tensions, it is both significant and timely for the leaders of South Korea, the United State
s and Japan to reaffirm their commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance and strengthen their trilateral partnership.

Indeed, trilateral cooperation has been significantly strengthened in various areas, particularly in the security sector. This summer, the three nations conducted the comprehensive Freedom Edge exercise, an advanced iteration of the previous Freedom Shield drills between South Korea and the U.S. and Keen Edge between the U.S. and Japan. Furthermore, they have made strides in their efforts to prevent North Korea from illegally obtaining financial resources by establishing a framework for security cooperation among themselves.

Additionally, they managed to witness tangible progress and cooperation in the issues pertinent to economic security, state-of-the-art technology and supply channels. Despite such tangible achievements, however, they have yet to see any major changes in the security situation on the peninsula. Essentially, it is natural to resolutely address and prepare for any provocations fro
m the North. However, these measures alone are not sufficient. To truly address the security situation, there needs to be a fundamental shift toward fostering peace and dialogue, rather than continuing the path of military confrontation and antagonism.

North Korea cannot escape criticism for worsening the security situation through its aggressive provocations if it fails to demonstrate a genuine commitment to dialogue. Nevertheless, it is crucial for the Yoon Suk Yeol administration not to abandon its efforts toward peace. In this context, it is promising that Yoon offered a package of proposals to North Korea, emphasizing peace and reconciliation, during his National Liberation Day speech on Aug. 15. The Yoon administration should intensify efforts to develop strategies that encourage North Korea to engage in dialogue.

Tectonic challenges lie ahead as the three nations look to cement their cooperation and partnerships on an ongoing basis. With Biden recently withdrawing his candidacy, the U.S. presidential
race has become an unpredictable and tight competition. Kishida also withdrew his bid for reelection as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. On Sunday, the presidential office clarified that the three nations remain firmly committed to cooperation, despite the imminent leadership changes in the U.S. and Japan.

It is imperative for the leaders to effectively manage trilateral cooperation, unaffected by the potential instability of upcoming political shifts in the U.S. and Japan. Japan’s continued reluctance to extend a sincere apology for its past misdeeds has been posing a possible threat to efforts to solidify relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Now it is high time for the Yoon administration to exercise nuanced and proactive efforts to bolster trilateral cooperation and ease tensions on the peninsula.

Source: Yonhap News Agency