South Korea, Japan, US leaders renew pledge to cooperate on regional challenges

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol attends a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (not pictured) during NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the tarmac as he departs for Camp David, at Hagerstown Regional Airport in Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S., August 16, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on August 14, 2024. PHILIP FONG/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

SEOUL (Reuters) – The leaders of South Korea, Japan and the United States issued a joint statement on Sunday marking the anniversary of their summit at Camp David and reaffirmed a pledge to jointly tackle regional challenges, South Korea’s presidential office said.

The principles on trilateral cooperation established at the summit last year continues to serve as a roadmap for the three countries’ cooperation, the statement issued by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said.

“We stand by our commitment to consult on regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting our collective interests and security,” it said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Yoon met on Aug. 18 and agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation and take a united stand against China’s growing power and security threats from North Korea.

South Korean media said the leaders plan to meet again this year, citing unnamed sources, but said it was not yet clear when, especially since Kishida has announced he would be stepping down.

(Reporting by Jack Kim, editing by Deepa Babington)