Defence ministers from South Korea, the United States, and Japan have signed a landmark agreement to formalize their trilateral security cooperation. The memorandum of cooperation institutionalizes trilateral security cooperation among defense authorities, including senior-level policy consultations, information sharing, trilateral exercises, and defense exchange cooperation, to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond [a3a17192].
South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik underscored the significance of the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework (TSCF) and dismissed claims that the signing was hurried to occur before the US presidential election in November. Minister Shin pointed to the increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, its growing military cooperation with Russia, and the potential for attempts to alter the regional status quo by force as key factors necessitating the enhanced security framework [a3a17192].
The leaders of South Korea, Japan, and the US issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to jointly tackle regional challenges. The principles on trilateral cooperation established at the summit last year continue to serve as a roadmap for their cooperation. They stand by their commitment to consult on regional challenges, provocations, and threats affecting their collective interests and security. They agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation and take a united stand against China's growing power and security threats from North Korea. The leaders plan to meet again this year, but the timing is not yet clear [e6cda50b].
However, the trilateral security cooperation could face challenges due to differences in priorities among the three countries involved. Bolstering the three-way defense cooperation beyond the needed extent to fend off North Korean threats could hurt South Korea's national interests by antagonizing China and Russia. Critics argue that the strengthened trilateral security cooperation could deepen the "security dilemma" faced by South Korea rather than reduce it. Additionally, Seoul's withdrawal of opposition against Tokyo's move to register the historic Sado gold mine as a Unesco World Heritage site has drawn criticism. Critics argue that Japan failed to acknowledge the "forced labor" of Koreans who had to toil there under harsh conditions during World War II [a3a17192].
Despite these challenges, the trilateral security cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and the US is seen as a significant step towards promoting security and stability in the region. The framework provides a platform for enhanced coordination and collaboration, which will contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond [a3a17192].