White House Says US, South Korea And Japan To Deepen Military And Economic Ties At Camp David Summit

 

Newsweek: U.S., South Korea, Japan to Enter New Security Pact at Camp David Summit 

The United States has agreed to new security ties with Japan and South Korea in a historic trilateral pact aimed at countering threats from China and North Korea, according to a senior Biden administration official. 

President Joe Biden will announce the new security framework with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a trilateral summit Friday at Camp David, the presidential retreat that has served for decades as the site for high-profile summits between the U.S. and key partners around the world.  

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WNU Editor: China is responding to this summit .... China blasts US-Japan-South Korea summit, warns of 'contradictions and increasing tensions' (AP). More here .... China warns of ‘increasing tensions’ ahead of US-Japan-South Korea summit (The Hill).  

Update: I am also not expecting this .... U.S.-Japan-South Korea Summit: Don’t Expect an ‘Asian NATO’ (Time). 

White House Says US, South Korea And Japan To Deepen Military And Economic Ties At Camp David Summit  

US hails ‘new era’ of Asia Pacific relations as Biden hosts historic summit with Japan and South Korea – live -- The Guardian  

US, South Korea and Japan to deepen military and economic ties at Camp David summit -- Reuters  

US announces new multiyear military exercise plan with Japan, South Korea ahead of summit -- FOX News  

Camp David Trilateral Summit Cements US-Japan-ROK 'Commitment to Consult' in a Crisis -- VOA  

US-Japan-ROK to make ‘pledge’ to consult each other in security crises -- Breaking Defense

US President Biden To Host Japan, South Korea Leaders At Camp David Tomorrow

 

CNN: Biden turns to Camp David diplomacy for first-ever trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea  

President Joe Biden is using the presidential retreat at Camp David to help with a diplomatic mission – hosting the first-ever trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea, two countries that are putting aside a fraught history in the face of shared security challenges.

Biden’s summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is meant to serve as a show of force as the countries grapple with persistent provocative behavior from North Korea. It also comes as the president has sought to deepen ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific amid concerns about a rising China.  

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WNU Editor: China's position on this summit is clear .... US-Japan-South Korea summit to form 'destructive' mini NATO structure (Global Times). 

As to what is my take. 

This is all about optics. American media and the US foreign policy establishment are playing up this summit as a big event for President Biden. But I predict the only substantive thing that will be coming out of this summit will be a hotline .... U.S., Japan, South Korea to work toward security hotline at summit (Nikkei Asia). More here .... Biden to broker crisis hotline with Japan, South Korea (Axios). 

US President Biden To Host Japan, South Korea Leaders At Camp David Tomorrow  

Biden nods to Camp David history by inviting Yoon, Kishida -- Reuters 

Biden will use Camp David backdrop hoping to broker a breakthrough in Japan-South Korea relations -- AP

US promises ‘new era’ as Biden prepares to host first summit with Japan and South Korea -- The Guardian  

US summit seen as potential milestone for Japan, South Korea relations: ANALYSIS -- ABC News 

At Camp David, Biden looks to cement a fragile truce -- Politico  

At Camp David, Biden aims to nudge Japan and South Korea toward greater unity in complicated Pacific -- The Hill  

America’s Window of Opportunity in Asia -- Foreign Affairs

U.S., Japan, And South Korea To Announce Deeper Defense Cooperation At Camp David Summit

United States President Joe Biden with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of the Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima in May. PHOTO: AFP 

Reuters: US, South Korea, Japan to launch new defence steps at Camp David: Officials 

WASHINGTON – The United States, Japan and South Korea will launch a series of joint initiatives on technology, education and defence when the countries’ leaders gather at Camp David on Friday, according to senior US administration officials, amid mounting shared concerns about China. 

While the summit is unlikely to produce a formal security arrangement that commits the nations to each others’ defence, they will agree to mutual understanding about regional responsibilities and set up a three-way hotline to communicate in times of crisis, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

US President Joe Biden invited Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the storied presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains as the Asian nations work to mend their tattered diplomatic relations in the face of greater regional threats posed both by China’s rise and North Korea.  

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WNU Editor: China is closely watching this summit .... US, Japan, S.Korea boosting military tie-up 'destructive to regional peace (Global Times). More here .... ‘High alert’: China watching closely as US, Japan, S Korea aim for ‘Asian Nato’ (SCMP). 

U.S., Japan, And South Korea To Announce Deeper Defense Cooperation At Camp David Summit  

US, Japan, South Korea to announce deeper defense cooperation at Camp David summit -- AP

South Korea president calls for deeper security cooperation with US ahead of summit -- The Hill  

Korea, US, Japan to discuss security cooperation at trilateral summit -- Korea Herald 

U.S., Japan and South Korea to agree on annual three-way summits -- Japan Times  

U.S., Japan and South Korea to discuss crisis hotline at Camp David summit -- Axios

U.S., South Korea, Japan Hold Missile Defense Drills In Response To Recent North Korean Missile Tests

The United States, South Korea and Japan held trilateral missile defense training in the East Sea Monday, the South Korean navy said. Photo courtesy of Republic of Korea Ministry of Defense  

Reuters: S.Korea, US, Japan hold drills as N.Korea slams US 'nuclear 

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea, the United States and Japan staged joint naval missile defence exercises on Monday to improve responses to North Korean threats, as Pyongyang accused Washington of ramping up "nuclear blackmail" with military drills. 

The three nations agreed at talks in Washington on Friday to hold regular missile defence and anti-submarine exercises in their efforts to boost diplomatic and military cooperation. 

 North Korea tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday that experts say would ease the way for missile launches with little warning, part of an increase in its military activities in recent weeks.  

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Update #1: U.S., South Korea, Japan hold missile defense drills in response to N. Korea (UPI)  

Update #2: US, South Korea and Japan flex missile-defense muscles after North’s latest ICBM test (Stars and Stripes) 

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. After this exercise is over, North Korea is going to continue ignoring these Hotline calls .... Is Kim Jong Un about to go rogue? North Korea goes chillingly silent with Seoul reporting no contact on hotline for a week as rocket test sparks panic in Japan and dictator orders expansion of his nuclear arsenal (Daily Mail).

Japan And South Korea Mend Ties At Landmark Summit

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to the popular Rengatei restaurant, which specialises in Japanese-style Western dishes [Japan's Cabinet Public Relations Office/Kyodo via Reuters]

CNN: Japan and South Korea agree to mend ties as leaders meet following years of dispute 

The leaders of South Korea and Japan promised to resume ties in a fence-mending summit – the first such meeting in 12 years – as the two neighbors seek to confront threats from North Korea and rising concerns about China. 

“From now on, I would like to open a new chapter in Japan-South Korea relations through frequent visits by both sides that are not tied down by formality,” Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in Tokyo after meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. 

Mutual visits by Japanese and South Korean leaders have been suspended for 12 years as ties soured over several issues, including a wartime labor dispute. 

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WNU editor: This was a big summit that produced tangible results. This is especially noteworthy .... Yoon announces 'complete normalization' of military intel-sharing pact with Japan (Nikkei Asia). With the US in decline, both countries are positioning themselves to work together to face the threat that North Korea presents, and the aggressive moves by China over territorial disputes. 

Japan And South Korea Mend Ties At Landmark Summit  

Yoon returns to storm in South Korea after Japan breakthrough -- Nikkei Asia  

Kishida and Yoon to resume 'shuttle diplomacy' as frosty ties warm -- Japan Ties  

Kishida and Yoon bond over sukiyaki, omurice and beer in Ginza -- Nikkei Asia  

Japan, South Korea move to mend ties at landmark summit -- Al Jazeera

US, Japan, And South Korea Are United On The Issues Of North Korea And Taiwan

 

Straits Times: US, Japan, South Korea united on North Korea, Taiwan issues: Officials 

TOKYO - The United States and its two East Asian allies Japan and South Korea on Wednesday (July 21) discussed stability in the Taiwan Strait and the denuclearisation of North Korea, stressing their policy alignment even amid frayed relations between Tokyo and Seoul. 

In their first trilateral vice-foreign ministerial consultations in four years, the three countries said they "stood shoulder to shoulder" in their strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific and over North Korea. 

"When countries take actions that run counter to the United States' interests or that threaten our partners and allies, we will not let those challenges go unanswered," US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said in Tokyo.  

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WNU Editor: This is going to miff China -- US, South Korea, Japan emphasize importance of Taiwan Strait peace (Times of India) 

 More News On US, Japan, And South Korea Reaching An Agreement On The Issues Of North Korea And Taiwan  

Japan, US, South Korea reaffirm cooperation on North Korea -- AP  

U.S., Japan, South Korea send clear message to N.Korea - U.S. diplomat -- Reuters 

Japan, US, S. Korea agree to boost cooperation over N. Korea nukes -- Kyodo News  

US, Japan and South Korea stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ over policy towards North Korea -- RT

South Korea President To Skip Olympics After Crude ‘Masturbating’ Remark By Japanese Diplomat

 

Washington Post: South Korea's Moon scraps Olympic visit after diplomat's 'unacceptable' remark 

TOKYO —South Korean President Moon Jae-in has scrapped a planned visit to Tokyo for the Olympics and to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, his office said on Monday, shortly after lodging a protest over "unacceptable" remarks by a Japanese diplomat. 

South Korea had objected to a news report Friday that said a senior diplomat at Japan’s embassy in Seoul had described Moon’s efforts to use the Olympics to improve relations between the two countries as “masturbating.” 

“President Moon has decided not to visit Japan,” Park Soo-hyun, Moon’s press secretary, told a news conference, adding that the two sides had been exploring ways to tackle rows over history and boost cooperation but did not reach agreement.  

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WNU Editor: The Japanese diplopmat who made the masturbation remark is being removed .... Japan to remove deputy envoy to S. Korea for improper remark (The Mainichi). 

More News On South Korean President Skipping The Olympics After ‘Masturbating’ Remark By Japanese Diplomat  

South Korea's Moon drops plan to visit Japan amid uproar over sexual innuendo -- CNA/Reuters

S. Korea president to skip Olympics after ‘masturbating’ remark by Japanese diplomat -- NYPost  

South Korea’s Moon cancels Japan trip amid spat over insult -- Al Jazeera  

President Moon Decides Against Olympic Visit to Japan -- The Diplomat 

South Korean President Moon to skip Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony after scandal with Japanese diplomat derails summit chances -- RT