WASHINGTON — In a recent trilateral call, diplomats from South Korea, the United States, and Japan urged China to leverage its influence over North Korea to halt activities destabilizing the region. This appeal was made during phone discussions earlier this week and highlights ongoing concerns among these nations regarding North Korea’s conduct.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister for Strategy and Intelligence, Cho Koo-rae, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, and Japan's Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs, Hiroyuki Namazu, conducted a trilateral discussion on Tuesday. The officials pressed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to use its considerable influence with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to bring an end to the regime’s destabilizing activities.
The diplomats also underscored the urgency for North Korea to cease its current trajectory and return to diplomatic negotiations. The discussion covered various aspects of regional security, including North Korea’s malicious cyber activities and its deepening military ties with Russia. These connections are perceived as enhancing Russia’s capabilities in its conflict with Ukraine and complicating the global non-proliferation landscape, violating multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the necessity of strengthening trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Kritenbrink reiterated the U.S.'s unwavering commitment to the defense of its allies in the face of these challenges.