New york: The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States, and Japan will convene for trilateral discussions on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week, as announced by Seoul's foreign ministry on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya for the talks scheduled for Monday afternoon (local time). The ministry shared this information with reporters but withheld additional details.
The diplomats are in New York accompanying their respective leaders-President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba-during the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week. The discussions aim to underscore the commitment to their trilateral partnership and to enhance coordination on shared interests, particularly concerning North Korea's nuclear situation.
This meeting follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's indication of willingness to engage with the Trump administration, provided that Washington abandons its demand for Pyongyang's denuclearization. Kim reminisced positively about his previous interactions with Trump, signaling potential for future dialogue. However, he reiterated his stance of not engaging with South Korea or pursuing unification with the South, despite persistent diplomatic efforts from President Lee's administration.
In a recent TIME magazine interview, President Lee reiterated his strategy involving an arms freeze, reduction, and eventual denuclearization, coupled with easing sanctions as a pathway to resolving North Korea's nuclear challenges. Lee mentioned that Trump aligns with this approach.
The upcoming talks are also expected to address maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, especially considering China's increasingly assertive actions. Additionally, discussions may cover collaborative efforts in emerging technologies, focusing on critical minerals, supply chain stability, and artificial intelligence.
The last high-level diplomatic meeting between these three nations occurred in Malaysia during ASEAN-related events, where a South Korean vice foreign minister attended on behalf of Cho, who was then awaiting parliamentary confirmation.