SEOUL: Japan’s top envoy to Seoul said Friday that Japan, the United States and South Korea need to utilize their opportunity to simultaneously serve as members of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) this year as an occasion to bolster trilateral cooperation.

Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima made the remark during an annual peace symposium organized by Yonhap News Agency and co-hosted by the unification ministry, to discuss ways to strengthen three-way cooperation amid global security challenges.

“In particular, we are closely monitoring the relationship between Russia and North Korea with serious concern, including the outcome of last week’s summit meeting between the two leaders,” Mizushima said.

He said Japan will continue to closely cooperate with the U.S. and South Korea to ensure the full implementation of UNSC resolutions against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

“In particular, it is important to take advantage of the opportunity that the three countries are simultaneousl
y serving as members of the UNSC this year to further strengthen cooperation in international society. We are committed to strengthening trilateral cooperation,” he said.

In January, South Korea began its two-year term as a non-permanent UNSC member, marking the third time for the South to serve as one of the 10 nonpermanent members of the council.

Source: Yonhap News Agency