The United States, South Korea, and Japan held a trilateral meeting in Washington to discuss strategies for enhancing cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, alongside addressing illicit financial activities linked to Pyongyang, according to the U.S. State Department.
The meeting, conducted on June 25 and 26, reaffirmed the commitment of the three countries to work towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea, with intensified efforts to cut funding sources that support Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
Discussions also focused on bolstering coordination to combat cybercrimes attributed to North Korea, including cryptocurrency theft and money laundering operations, used, according to Washington, to fund activities subjected to international sanctions.
The statement noted participants expressed concern about the theft of digital assets valued at over $500 million, affirming their readiness to strengthen joint measures to curb such activities and dry up Pyongyang's funding sources.
The meeting is part of an expanding security collaboration between the United States, Japan, and South Korea to address regional challenges, chiefly North Korea's nuclear program and cross-border cyber threats.