July 11, 2023
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii — Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Dave Butler provided the following readout:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley hosted a trilateral meeting at Camp Smith, Hawaii today with Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide and Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kim Seung Kyum.
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. John C. Aquilino, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, and U.S. Forces Japan/Fifth Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Ricky N. Rupp also attended.
This session featured discussions on regional security challenges, to include the DPRK’s destabilizing activities and opportunities for increased trilateral cooperation toward maintaining peace and stability in the region. Gen. Milley reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to defend Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The conclusion of the meeting coincided with another missile launch by the DPRK, in violation of unanimously approved UN Security Council resolutions. The leaders, while monitoring the situation, coordinated in real-time to develop bilateral and trilateral response options to enhance the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region.
The three Chiefs of Defense condemn DPRK’s provocative actions, which highlight the importance of the trilateral commitment in the face of a blatant DPRK threat.
The U.S.-Japan and U.S.-ROK Alliances are essential to maintaining regional peace and stability and to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
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