Mr. Yoon also spoke about the United States and emphasized the importance of U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation. He did not push for the reunification of North and South Korea, but he did criticize the totalitarian communist state multiple times.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and South Korea.
Mr. Yoon said that the South Korea-U.S. alliance is an alliance for peace based on shared values of freedom and democracy and that such shared values extend to Japan.
He pushed for South Korea and Japan’s cooperation to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula and trilateral efforts to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
U.S. President Joe Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Mr. Yoon later held a summit at Camp David near Washington on Aug. 18, a new milestone in the three countries’ geopolitical alliance.
North Korea Accelerates Advanced Weapons Program
North Korean state media reported on Aug. 14 that leader Kim Jong Un inspected several weapons factories producing “tactical missiles” and mobile missile launching devices over two days beginning Aug. 12. The communist dictator announced the objectives of improving the capability of existing ballistic missiles and equipping them with their armed forces. This was the second time North Korea reported on Mr. Kim’s inspection of military facilities this year.
In recent years, North Korea has accelerated its research and development of nuclear and advanced weapons. The regime has repeatedly tested large-caliber rocket launchers, advanced cruise missiles, and new ICBMs.
Chinese Defence Minister’s Sudden Visit to Russia
Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu visited the Moscow Conference on International Security on Aug. 15, right before the trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea. This marked his second visit this year to Russia.The two defense ministers reached a tacit agreement on the Taiwan issue. Both claimed that the West are fanning the flames over Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued strengthening its alliance with North Korea. On July 27, North Korea celebrated its “Victory Day,” with both CCP Politburo member Li Hongzhong and Russian Defence Minister Gen. Shoigu attending the event, demonstrating an authoritarian trilateral alliance to counter the United States and U.S. allies.
Biden Refers to CCP Leaders as ‘Bad Folks’
President Biden told a political fundraiser on Aug. 10 that China’s economy is like a “ticking time bomb.” He added, “That’s not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things.”It is difficult to predict what those “bad things” might be, but when an authoritarian regime encounters a domestic crisis, it often seeks to divert attention through military aggression.
On Aug. 17, Japan’s Ministry of Defence announced that 11 warships (six Chinese and five Russian) sailed north from the Pacific Ocean to the East China Sea, passing between Japan’s Okinawa Island and Komiyajima. This was the first time in history that warships from both countries passed between two Japanese islands together. Japan viewed this as a threat and a security risk and will continue to maintain surveillance around its waters.
