(VOVWORLD) - Top diplomats from South Korea, the US, and Japan had a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering Wednesday, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
At the meeting, the diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to advancing trilateral cooperation even after the leadership change in Japan and despite the US tariff pressure, the ministry said.
The three sides also discussed issues related to North Korea, as Pyongyang continues its missile launches while remaining unresponsive to Washington's repeated offers for dialogue.
The three-way talk marked their first since the new Japanese cabinet, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, took office. It followed a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump.
Trump also had his first one-on-one meeting with the new Japanese leader in Tokyo before he headed to Korea for the APEC events.
The Japanese Prime Minister said she will meet with the South Korean President later Thursday. A trilateral meeting among Lee, Trump, and Takaichi is unlikely to take place during this week's APEC forum, according to diplomatic sources.