Japan in Depth / U.S. key in trilateral talks / 3 states to cooperate on N. Korean threat

On Saturday, a meeting between the Japanese, U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs in Singapore was held to discuss the containment of the North Korean nuclear and missile threat.  As the relation between Tokyo and Seoul has recently been deteriorating due to renewed controversy over various perceptions of history , this meeting is believed to have been arranged at the initiative of Washington.The three defense chiefs agreed to cooperate in deterring North Korea from engaging in further acts of nuclear and missile provocation. After the meeting, the defense chiefs issued a joint statement demanding Pyongyang abandon its nuclear weapons and development program. The statement also confirmed that Japan, the United States and South Korea would continue to cooperate in achieving that goal. Washington emphasized the importance of increased cooperation between Tokyo and Seoul in order to deter North Korea from engaging in new act of provocation. 

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000275342
Honami Nabeshima