Japan, U.S., South Korea planning trilateral summit meeting

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:12 JST, June 2, 2021

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are planning to hold a trilateral summit on the sidelines of a Group of Seven summit meeting set to be held in Britain from June 11 to 13, according to Japanese government sources.

The three leaders will likely confirm efforts to collaborate over such issues as North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles.

If realized, it would be the first trilateral summit among the countries since September 2017.

The United States has taken the initiative in coordinating the summit. The Biden administration has compiled a new North Korea policy, in which sanctions would be gradually relaxed in line with progress made toward Pyongyang’s denuclearization.

It is believed that Biden will explain details of the U.S. policy at the summit, as the three leaders try to keep in step with one another regarding North Korea.

Britain, which is chairing the G7 summit, has invited Seoul, even though South Korea is not a G7 member.

Japan, the United States and South Korea held foreign minister meetings when the G7 foreign ministers met in May.

Suga and Biden will also likely hold a bilateral summit meeting. If realized, it would be their second in-person bilateral summit following their meeting in Washington in April.

It is uncertain whether Japan and South Korea will hold a bilateral summit meeting.