LIMA: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is poised to meet U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a trilateral summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru this week. This meeting aims to further the progress achieved during the landmark trilateral summit at Camp David in August 2023, where the leaders committed to holding such summits annually. According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon is scheduled to depart for Lima on Thursday, with the trilateral meeting slated for Friday. The leaders are expected to discuss "institutionalizing" the progress in trilateral cooperation, a point emphasized by Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor. During a press briefing, Sullivan highlighted the historic cooperation between the three nations and the need to ensure that the progress made continues through leadership transitions. Sullivan also noted that President Biden's attendance at the APEC summit underscores the U.S.'s strengthened alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, citing a "literal all-time high" in cooperation with Japan, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines. He stressed that these alliances are central to American strength and global capacity. In recent months, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a trilateral cooperation secretariat, with plans to finalize this when their leaders convene later this year. However, with a government transition set to occur in Washington in January, it remains uncertain whether the creation of the secretariat will be finalized during this summit. The upcoming discussions are anticipated to address regional tensions, particularly concerning North Korea's involvement in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Reports confirm that North Korean troops have engaged in combat against Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region, heightening security concerns. Three-way cooperation among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan has gained momentum since President Yoon pro posed a solution to compensate Korean victims of Japan's colonial-era forced labor. This diplomatic breakthrough has warmed relations between Seoul and Tokyo, facilitating the Camp David summit and subsequent agreements, including a "Commitment to Consult" in response to shared security challenges. The countries have since enhanced security cooperation through joint exercises and the sharing of ballistic missile warning data.