The leaders of the United States, Japan, and South Korea are strengthening their trilateral defense cooperation in response to North Korean threats, with plans to expand joint military exercises, according to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
“We’ve made significant progress on areas like technology protection, supply chain diversification, missile warning systems, and the sharing of data to prevent misinterpretations,” Sullivan said. “We expect to take additional steps tomorrow to further enhance our coordination.”
On Thursday, the U.S., Japanese, and South Korean militaries conducted joint exercises in the waters south of the Korean Peninsula and west of Japan. These drills marked the final joint military exercises under the Biden administration.
During his first term, former President Donald Trump pushed for closer relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, while also urging Japan and South Korea to contribute more to the cost of U.S. defense efforts in the region.
Ahead of his reelection, the U.S. and South Korea reached a new agreement, with South Korea agreeing to contribute $1.19 billion in 2026 to support U.S. military presence, representing an 8.3% increase over the previous year.
