President Yun: ``Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation is more important than ever''...Hope to continue maintaining relations = South Korean report

On the 8th, the Presidential Office announced that President Yoon Seo-gyeol was visiting South Korea for the Japan-U.S.-Korea Security Office Chiefs' Meeting, along with National Security Director Akiba and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, in Yong, Seoul.
It was revealed that he was invited to the official residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, and held a dinner party. National Security Office Director Cho Tae Yeon was also present at this meeting.
Regarding the Japan-U.S.-Korea Security Office Chiefs' Meeting scheduled for the next day, President Yun said, ``This meeting is based on the leaders' meeting at Camp David in August.
"This is the first time since the meeting, and it is the first meeting of the security chiefs of the three countries to be held in Seoul, so it is of great significance," he said, welcoming the visit of the Japanese and U.S. security chiefs to South Korea.
Furthermore, President Yun said, ``Although the relationship of trust between the leaders of the three countries is important, it is the national security advisers and leaders of the three countries that have actually produced results.''
``We decided to take advantage of this meeting to hold a dinner party to thank the heroes of Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation.''
President Yun went on to say, ``Japan-Korea cooperation has been affected by armed conflicts occurring in various parts of the world, and the existing order is under threat.''
"This is even more important than it has been in the past," he said, adding, "I hope that the agreements reached at Camp David will be successfully implemented and that efforts like this will continue in the future."
"I will." Director Akiba and Sullivan said, ``President Yun's leadership and determination have made the current unprecedented development of Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation possible,'' adding, ``It is President Yun's leadership and determination that has made possible the unprecedented development of Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation.''
We will work together to ensure that U.S.-ROK cooperation contributes to world peace, stability, and prosperity." Furthermore, Sullivan said, ``When I visited South Korea for the U.S.-South Korea summit in May of last year, I realized that the relationship between Japan and South Korea was not as strong as it is today.
"I could never have imagined the Japan-U.S.-Korea relationship," he said, adding, "President Yoon's power has made this possible." He continued, ``We hope to make the hit song ``American Pie'' of yesteryear popular again in the United States.
"I made it," he added. Director-General Akiba also agreed with Sullivan's assessment, saying, ``All Japanese people, including Prime Minister Kishida, welcome the greatly changed Japan-South Korea relationship, and hope that the three countries will have greater cooperation.''
I hope that we can achieve even more through cooperation." At the dinner party on this day were Kim Tae Hee, First Deputy Director of the Security Office, Goldberg, the US Ambassador to South Korea, and Emanuel Emanuel, the US Ambassador to South Korea.
The Ambassador of Japan to South Korea, Koichi Aiboshi, and others attended.