○Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Kim Seung Kyum, had a trilateral meeting at Camp Smith, Hawaii with Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, Japan Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide .

○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 the Republic of Korea and Japan.

○The conclusion of the meeting coincided with another ICBM-class ballistic missile launch by the DPRK, in violation of unanimously approved UN Security Council resolutions. The three Chiefs of Defense, 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 ROK-U.S. and U.S.-Japan Alliances are essential to maintaining regional peace and stability and to ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

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