Minister of Defense Telephone Talks with US Secretary of Defense Agreement on Early Meeting of Japan-US-Korea Video Conference May 16 5:20
Defense Minister Kono will meet with US Secretary of Defense Esper over the telephone on the night of the 15th, and will hold a video conference between the ministers early as it is necessary for the three countries, including South Korea, to cooperate closely in dealing with North Korea. We agreed to proceed with the adjustment.
The telephone conversation between Defense Minister Kono and Secretary of Defense Esper has been since the 24th of last month. Minister Kono and Secretary Esper exchanged views on China's increasing activity in the East China Sea and South China Sea as the new coronavirus infection spreads worldwide. We also discussed how to respond to North Korea, which continues to launch ballistic missiles.
They agreed that the three countries of Japan, the United States, and South Korea would need to work closely together, and would make adjustments toward an early holding of a video conference between ministers.