The Historic Announcements by the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan

We welcome today’s historic announcements by the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan regarding the conclusion of discussions on sensitive historical issues. The ROK and Japan are two of the United States’ most important allies, and we are inspired by the work they have done to advance their bilateral relations.

We applaud President Yoon, Prime Minister Kishida, and their respective administrations for their courage and vision, and call on the international community to join our commendation of this momentous achievement. The trilateral relationship between the United States, the ROK, and Japan is central to our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, which is why I, along with other senior Department colleagues, have invested so much time and focus on this critical partnership. We look forward to continuing to work with both countries, including through our regular trilateral dialogues, to advance global peace and security.