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South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (center) poses with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) and Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (left) during a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Gyeongju on October 29. / Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to maintaining close coordination on North Korea during a trilateral meeting held in Gyeongju on October 29, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula and trilateral economic cooperation.

“It is meaningful that this is the first foreign ministers’ meeting since Japan’s recent cabinet reshuffle, attended by Minister Motegi,” Cho said. “Let us strengthen supply chain resilience and cooperate in addressing transnational challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Rubio and Motegi welcomed the opportunity to hold the meeting during APEC week in Gyeongju, emphasizing their joint resolve to “work together for regional peace, stability, and prosperity.”

The three ministers agreed to continue their efforts for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy and to maintain regular communication going forward.