The top diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea agree to pursue closer cooperation in addressing North Korea's steady development of nuclear and missile capabilities, and its expanding military cooperation with Russia.
Japan, the United States and South Korea affirm that their system to share real-time information on North Korean ballistic missiles is "in the final stage" toward launch by year-end, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara says.
The South Korean air force says it, the United States and Japan held a trilateral aerial exercise for the first time on Sunday near the Korean Peninsula.
Japan, the United States, and South Korea are expected to agree during their upcoming leaders meeting near the U.S. capital to hold annual three-way gatherings for their foreign ministers and defense ministers, respectively, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.
The United States believes a summit to be held this week with Japan and South Korea will mark a "new era" of their trilateral cooperation, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says.