Kang Kyung Wha (L), Mike Pompeo (M), and Toshimitsu Motegi (R). (Image via Mainichi)

Japan, U.S, S. Korea discuss COVID-19, N. Korea, and bilateral relations

In Munich Security Conference, top diplomats from Japan, the United States (U.S), and South Korea (S. Korea) vowed to support China in an effort to tackle the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, as the death toll and confirmed cases were increasing and threatened the global economy.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi; U.S Secretary of Spirit, Mike Pompeo; and, S. Korean Foreign Minister, Kang Kyung Wha, confirmed the trilateral cooperation to also contain threats from North Korea (N. Korea).

The Foreign Ministers and Secretary vowed to support China’s measure to stem the virus and provide the necessary assistance. On Saturday, the U.S Embassy in Japan stated that it would send a chartered plane to pick up American nationals from the cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama Port for nearly two weeks.

Originating from Wuhan, Hubei Province, Central China, has killed more than 1,500 people and infecting over 66,000 Chinese people. As other countries also detected their citizens positive for COVID-19, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that the deadly respiratory disease will halt global economic growth.

Out of nowhere, N. Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, said to reveal a new strategic weapon as the deadline for negotiation between the U.S and N. Korea, on 31 December 2019, had passed. That means N. Korea is breaking the negotiation off with the U.S.

In mid-January, Motegi and friends were persuading N. Korea to refrain from military activities and keep its denuclearization promise to avoid another round of economic sanctions.

Meanwhile, Japan and S. Korea continued their own dialogues to settle the bilateral feud over wartime history and trade policy. While Japan keeps the same demand for S. Korea (to call off the 2018’s court decision to compensate for the wartime labor), S. Korea asks Japan to lift the strict export control on S. Korea.

Source: https://bit.ly/2vAsJVB