South Korea, Japan, US Leaders Renew Pledge to Cooperate on Regional Challenges

US President Joe Biden, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand together for a trilateral meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, US, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Joe Biden, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand together for a trilateral meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, US, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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South Korea, Japan, US Leaders Renew Pledge to Cooperate on Regional Challenges

US President Joe Biden, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand together for a trilateral meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, US, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Joe Biden, South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stand together for a trilateral meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, US, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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 continue 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.
US 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, Reuters reported.
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.



North Korea Condemns Ukraine’s Incursion into Russia as Act of Terror

Fortification structures set up not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in the Sumy region near the border with Russia, Ukraine, 17 August 2024 amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Fortification structures set up not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in the Sumy region near the border with Russia, Ukraine, 17 August 2024 amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
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North Korea Condemns Ukraine’s Incursion into Russia as Act of Terror

Fortification structures set up not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in the Sumy region near the border with Russia, Ukraine, 17 August 2024 amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)
Fortification structures set up not far from the Ukraine-Russia border in the Sumy region near the border with Russia, Ukraine, 17 August 2024 amid the Russian invasion. (EPA)

North Korea condemned Ukraine's incursion into Russia as an unforgivable act of terror backed by Washington and the West, adding it would always stand with Russia as it seeks to protect its sovereignty, state media said on Sunday.

Ukraine's drive into Russia is a product of the anti-Russia confrontational policy of the United States, which is pushing the situation to the brink of World War Three, KCNA news agency said.

The US handed "astronomical" sums of lethal weapons to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the report said.

"We strongly condemn the armed attack against the Russian territory by the Zelenskiy puppet regime under the control and support of the United States and the West as an unforgivable act of aggression and terror," North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement, according to KCNA.

North Korea has dramatically upgraded its ties with Russia in the past year with two summit meetings by their leaders who pledged closer cooperation in all areas.

In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact in Pyongyang on "comprehensive strategic partnership" that included a mutual defense agreement.

South Korea, Ukraine and the United States have accused North Korea of supplying artillery and missiles to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. North Korea and Russia have denied the allegations.