Aug 18 (Reuters) – After meeting at Camp David on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke to reporters from all three countries for about an hour, delivering prepared remarks and answering questions.
The following are some highlights:
US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
“This has been a great, great meeting … This is a new era of partnership between Japan and the Republic of Korea and the United States.”
“I want to recognize the important work that both of you have done and the political courage, and I mean this sincerely, the political courage that you both have demonstrated to resolve difficult issues that have stood in the way for a long time a close relationship between Japan and Korea, and with the United States.”
“Together we’re going to stand up for international law.”
On Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “If we stood still what signal would that send to China about Taiwan?”
Putin’s justification for the February 2022 invasion was “just ridiculous … He talked about being Peter the Great.”
U.S. President Joe Biden holds a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during the trilateral summit at Camp David near Thurmont, Maryland, U.S., August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Jim Bourg Acquire Licensing Rights
JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA
“This has been a precious opportunity for myself to further deepen the relationship of trust and confidence.”
Speaking of Camp David: “It is a huge honor to have printed a fresh page in its history with this meeting.”
“Unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas are continuing and nuclear and missile threats of North Korea is only becoming ever larger.”
“We also agreed to work together through the Indo-Pacific dialogue and the development of cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, and in particular to coordinate capacity building support in the domain of maritime security, particularly with regard to ASEAN and Pacific Island countries.”
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT YOON SUK YEOL
“From this moment on Camp David will be remembered as a historic place where the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan proclaimed that we will bolster the rules-based international order and play key roles to enhance regional security and prosperity, based on our shared values of freedom, human rights and rule of law.”
“Any provocations or attacks against any one of our three countries will trigger a decision making process of this trilateral framework and our solidarity will become even stronger and harder.”
On the Fukushima nuclear power plant water release: “I would like to make sure that everything is conducted and carried out in accordance with the procedures established by the IAEA.”
Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Hyonhee Shin and Eric Beech; Editing by Heather Timmons and Grant McCool
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