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Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday that close security cooperation with the United States and South Korea remains “critical” to regional peace and stability, amid uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to joint military exercises with Seoul.
Speaking during a visit to Australia, Koizumi reaffirmed Japan’s support for stronger trilateral security cooperation with its key ally, the United States, and neighbouring South Korea.
“As Japan faces the most severe and complicated security environment in the post-war era, cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea is critical to the peace and stability of the region,” Koizumi told reporters.
The Japan-Australia meeting in Canberra came hours after US President Donald Trump praised his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and criticised South Korea for not supporting Washington in its confrontation with Iran.
Asked about Trump’s remarks, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Canberra remained deeply concerned about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes.
“We are very concerned about North Korea’s nuclear programme as well as its missile programme, and we have consistently made that point,” Marles said.
“In the challenging world that we face, there are many challenges, but North Korea is the author of quite a few of those challenges,” he added.