WASHINGTON: Japan and the United States will explore ways to strengthen trilateral defense cooperation involving the two countries plus South Korea, John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the US National Security Council, said Wednesday.

Kirby said at a press conference that Japan and the United States “continue to look for ways to not only improve our bilateral military cooperation…but our trilateral military cooperation with Japan, South Korea and the United States together.”

The NSC official made the comments in connection with a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and US President Joe Biden, scheduled for Jan. 13 at the White House.

Kirby welcomed Japan’s recent update to its national security strategy. The move “demonstrates Japan’s renewed commitment to not only this terrific alliance that we have with them but to greater regional security,” he said.

JIJI Press