Nat'l security advisers of S. Korea, Japan discuss N.K. threat

▲ South Korea's National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong (R) poses for a photo with his Japanese counterpart, Takeo Akiba, during their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul on Dec. 8, 2023, in this photo released by the office. Akiba is in the South Korean capital to hold talks with Cho and his U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan, the next day to discuss regional security issues and trilateral cooperation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Japan-security advisers

Nat'l security advisers of S. Korea, Japan discuss N.K. threat

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Dec. 8 (Yonhap) -- The national security advisers of South Korea and Japan agreed Friday on the need to strengthen solidarity with the international community in order to respond firmly to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, the presidential office said.

National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and Japan's National Security Secretariat Secretary General Takeo Akiba held talks in Seoul ahead of Saturday's trilateral meeting with their U.S. counterpart, Jake Sullivan.

The two sides agreed that North Korea's "unprecedented" provocations are posing a "serious threat" to peace and stability in the region and beyond, the presidential office said in a press release.

"They reaffirmed the need for South Korea-Japan and South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and the strengthening of solidarity within the international community, in order to firmly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations," it said.

North Korea successfully placed a military spy satellite into orbit last month, after two failed attempts earlier in the year.

Cho and Akiba also discussed bilateral relations, noting the seven summits between their leaders this year, and agreed to expand areas of cooperation to produce more tangible results for the two countries' peoples, including in security and economic issues and people-to-people exchanges.

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