US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed issues such as the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the capture of North Korea at a summit in Washington. President Biden welcomed Japan’s new security strategy and reaffirmed the United States’ defense commitment to Japan. Reporter Ham Ji-ha reports.
On the 13th, the leaders of the United States and Japan emphasized the will for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the importance of trilateral cooperation between the United States and Japan.
In a joint statement issued after the summit between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held at the White House that day, the two countries said, “Today, our cooperation is at an unprecedented level.” It is rooted in our shared vision for Korea and guided by our shared values, including the rule of law. “
“At the same time, the Indo-Pacific is facing more and more challenges, from China’s actions that do not conform to the international rules-based order to North Korea’s provocations,” he said.
[미일 공동성명] “Our cooperation today is unprecedented, rooted in our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a peaceful and prosperous world, guided by our shared values including the rule of law. At the same time, the Indo-Pacific faces increasing challenges, from actions inconsistent with the international rules-based order by China to provocations by North Korea.”
In particular, both sides “reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution,” and “President Biden also reaffirmed the United States’ pledge to resolve the abduction issue (by North Korea) on once.”
[미일 공동성명] “We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. President Biden reaffirms the commitment of the United States to immediately resolve the abduction issue… We are committed to strengthening vital trilateral cooperation among Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States, in security and other domains. “
“We are also committed to strengthening the vital trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the United States in security and other areas,” the joint statement said.
The summit between President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida was held two months after they met face to face at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in November last year.
This is also the first time Prime Minister Kishida has visited the White House.
In all remarks before the summit that day, President Biden said, “We’re meeting at an important time in our alliance,” and “I don’t think we’ve ever been closer to Japan.”
[녹취: 바이든 대통령] “You know, we’re meeting at an amazing time in our league… I don’t think there’s ever been a time when we’re closer to Japan. Last year in Japan you said to me and I quote, ‘We are two countries that share basic values.’ We couldn’t agree with you more. These shared democratic values are the source of our strength, the source of our alliance, and the source of our ability to deliver for all our people.”
Then, during his visit to Japan last year, Prime Minister Kishida said that ‘our two countries share basic values’ and said, “I completely agree with this statement.”
“These common democratic values are the source of our strength and our alliance, and what we can convey to the peoples of both countries,” he said.
President Biden said, “We are modernizing our military alliance based on Japan’s historic increase in defense spending and a new national security strategy.”
[녹취: 바이든 대통령] “We are modernizing our military alliance, building on Japan’s historic increase in defense spending and a new national security strategy. I will be crystal clear. The United States is fully, thoroughly, committed to the alliance, and more importantly to the defense of Japan, the defense of Japan.”
“The United States is fully and thoroughly committed to the alliance and, more importantly, to the defense of Japan,” he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said, “Starting with (President Biden’s) visit to Japan last year, the two countries have achieved much for peace, security and prosperity in the region and the international community.”
In particular, he said, “We were able to do that through a number of talks, not only bilaterally, but also quad (consultative body of the United States, Japan, Australia and India) and trilateral meetings in Japan, the United States, and Korea.”
[녹취: 기시다 총리]
“Japan and the United States are facing the most challenging and complex security environment in recent history,” he said.
“Through this, Japan has decided to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities, including having counter-attack capabilities,” he said.
[녹취: 기시다 총리]
Prime Minister Kishida added, “The new (security) policy has been proposed by Japan, and I believe it will help the alliance’s deterrence capabilities as well as its response capabilities.”
In addition, Prime Minister Kishida emphasized, “As (President Biden) rightly pointed out, I also feel that the role of Japan and the United States, which share basic values such as democracy and the rule of law, is growing up to age more “
Meanwhile, on this day, Prime Minister Kishida met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the official residence of the US Vice President before the summit with President Biden.
“Vice President Harris welcomed Japan’s new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Strengthening Plan, and expressed appreciation for Japan’s bold steps to strengthen and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said. in a press release. in.
[백악관 보도자료] “The Vice President welcomed Japan’s new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Program and expressed appreciation for Japan’s bold steps to strengthen and defend an open and free Indo-Pacific. In this context, the Vice President and the Prime Minister discussed regional and global issues, including the threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Vice President reaffirmed our firm commitment to Alliance USA-Japan. “
“In that context, Vice President Harris and Prime Minister Kishida discussed regional and global issues, including the threat posed by North Korea,” he added.
This is VOA News Hamjiha.
