Foreign ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea have held a trilateral meeting in Tokyo. The meeting comes at a sensitive time in the region, which is mired in diplomatic and territorial disagreements. Experts are watching to see if today's meeting will lead to a trilateral summit sometime later this year.
A meeting of top diplomats from East Asia's heavyweights comes at a sensitive time. The foreign ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea are convening for a trilateral discussion for the first time in nearly a year and a half. Since then, diplomatic and territorial friction has been on the rise. Analysts are closely watching Wednesday's talks for possible signs of improved relations.
"It's our responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability. China insists that in the spirit of "squarely facing history and advancing toward the future," Chinese FM Wang Yi said.
Regional security was high on the agenda. The meeting took place just hours after the DPRK test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile. The countries agreeing to lead global efforts against what they call Pyongyang's provocative actions.
"It's unforgivable that North Korea launched a missile deemed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Japan immediately protested against the North Korean missile launch and would like to cooperate closely with China and South Korea to lead the international community's response to it," Japanese FM Fumio Kishida said.
"As we saw the North Korea's missile launch this morning, North Korea's recent nuclear test and continual missile launches have been an urgent and grave threat to this region. In such situation, solidarity and cooperation among three countries is more important than ever," South Korean FM Yun Byung-Se said.
Complicating matters in the region are defense and security issues. Japan is accused of revising the country's pacifist constitution to enhance its military role, and South Korea is criticized for a plan to deploy a controversial anti-missile defense system.
Despite this, experts hope these latest talks will lay the groundwork for the leaders of the three countries to meet sometime later this year. That, experts say, would be a positive first step toward stability in a diplomatically volatile region.
