Tri-nation military drill conducted in Seoul, involving Korea, U.S., and Japan.
Korea's guy in charge of defense policy, Cho Chang-rae, along with the US's acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy plans and capabilities, Kara Abercrombie, and Japan's defense policy director general, Taro Yamato, got together for a photo shoot after the 15th Korea-U.S.-Japan security meeting on September 10, 2024, in Seoul[1].
These security meetings often touch on the following topics:
- Shoving back North Korea's military shenanigans: These nations frequently huddle up to strategize ways to tackle North Korea's aggressive military actions and nuclear aspirations.
- Ramping up trilateral security efforts: The discussion usually involves bolstering their joint security measures, such as military drills and strategic planning.
- Keeping the Asia-Pacific region stable: Ensuring stability in the region, especially given the escalating challenges by other power players like China.
Though the specific topics of the September 2024 meeting aren't spelled out, these themes frequently take center stage in trilateral talks.
And as for recent developments, North Korea criticized Trump for making weapons exports easier, went ballistic over the deployment of B-1B bombers, and appears to be dialing up the tension with the US, indicating a possible extended standoff. Meanwhile, North Korea revved up its military airfield operations post-pandemic[2][3][4].
[1] https://joongangdaily.joins.com/2024/09/10/national/trilateral-security-meeting-korea-us-japan-seoul/[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-slams-trumps-easing-164937634.html[3] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-slams-b-1b-bomber-deployment-protracted-standoff-us-appears-2021-11-25/[4] https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/856818775/north-korea-reopens-military-airfield-after-covid-19-quarantine
- At the upcoming Korea-U.S.-Japan security meeting, defense policy director General Cho Chang-rae is expected to address the ongoing tension with North Korea and their criticism of the easing of weapons exports.
- The international community has been concerned about the recent deployment of B-1B bombers, with North Korea expressing extreme frustration and suggesting a protracted standoff with the U.S.
- General news outlets have reported North Korea's increase in military airfield operations post-pandemic, which raises concerns about the stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
- During the meeting, the defense officials may consider ramping up trilateral security efforts to confront North Korea's aggressive military actions and nuclear aspirations, especially in response to the deployment of B-1B bombers.
- The diplomatic and political landscape surrounding war-and-conflicts in Korea will likely be discussed during the security meeting, as well as the potential impact on Korea's defense policy and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
