CJCS Hosts ROK, Japanese Counterparts for Trilateral Discussions

WASHINGTON D.C. – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford hosted Republic of Korea Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Sun Jin Lee, and Japanese Chief of Staff Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano for a trilateral meeting at the Pentagon Oct. 14.

Joining General Dunford were Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Adm. Harry B. Harris; and Commander, Combined Forces Command, Gen. Vincent Brooks.

The session was the third between the senior-most U.S., ROK, and Japanese military officers since July 2014, and featured discussions on trilateral collaboration in order to respond to increasing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

They exchanged views on the Sept. 9 nuclear test, the second North Korea conducted this year, and the country’s numerous long-range missile tests.

The three military leaders reconfirmed the tests were flagrant violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions and agreed to firmly respond to the acts in coordination with each other. They called upon North Korea to "refrain from irresponsible provocations that aggravate regional tensions, and to instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments."

Gen. Dunford reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the U.S. to defend both the ROK and Japan and provide extended deterrence guaranteed by the full spectrum of U.S. military capabilities, including conventional, nuclear, and missile defense capabilities.

The senior military leaders agreed to continue working together to further mutual security issues in order to enhance peace and stability in the region.