Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia today, where he met separately with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha, and President of the Senate Hun Sen. He also engaged with Cambodian alumni of U.S. professional military education (PME) programs, as well as cadets from the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy visiting Cambodia for educational opportunities.

In their meetings, the officials discussed opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral defense relationship in support of regional peace and security, including through the resumption of military training exchanges on disaster assistance and United Nations Peacekeeping, training and exchanges on de-mining and unexploded ordnance clearance, and Cambodia’s access to U.S. PME programs. They also welcomed continued discussions about these issues between their respective defense establishments.

​Secretary Austin’s second trip to Cambodia as Secretary of Defense follows his November 2022 trip there for the 9th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Siem Reap.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SINGAPORE — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Singapore from May 30 – June 4, 2024, where he met with senior military and government officials and participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue.  

Hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue is a defense summit focused on the Asia-Pacific region where ministers and defense leaders from across the globe gather to discuss pressing security challenges and engage in bilateral talks.  

Paparo spoke on Shangri-La panel, “Deterrence and Reassurance in the Asia-Pacific,” where he highlighted strategic competition between major powers, including military capabilities, intentions and potential flashpoints. 

“Deterrance is our highest duty,” Paparo proclaimed. “It’s a result of capability and will, and the potential adversary’s awareness of the same. It relies on the potential enemies believing the risk of military defeat, but also economic loss, diplomatic isolation, or a combination of all of the above.” 

Paparo continued to say, “assurance focuses on building trust and confidence…it intends to reassure that allies and partners will come to their aid in the case of aggression, fostering stability within alliances and partnerships, and deterring potential aggressors.” 

During the Shangri-La Dialogue, Paparo hosted and participated in bilateral and multilateral meetings to underscore commitments to multinational engagements that showcase capabilities and increase understanding of regional challenges; efforts to enhance coordination and information-sharing arrangements; and a deepening cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region to confront common threats and protect shared interests. Paparo met with ministers of defense and senior military leaders from Australia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United Kingdom. 

While in Singapore, Paparo and INDOPACOM’s senior enlisted leader Fleet Master Chief David Isom, engaged with leadership and personnel assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 and Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73. They provided perspectives from the Shangri-La Dialogue and discussed commitments and collaborations with our regional allies. 

COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, promoting freedom of navigation through patrols in the South China Sea and contributing resources to humanitarian assistance and disaster response. DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements. 

As one of the U.S.’ strongest bilateral partners in Southeast Asia, Singapore plays an indispensable role in regional security, and the two countries continue to expand their enduring relationship based on mutual interests, robust security and defense cooperation and enduring people-to-people ties. 

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  –  

The most senior military officers with U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), the Republic of Korea Army, and the Australian Army spoke optimistically about the potential for broader and more frequent cooperation between their forces in a panel May 15, 2024, during the Land Forces in the Pacific (LANPAC) conference hosted here by the Association of the U.S. Army.

The four general officers spoke about partnership, cooperation, understanding, and deterrence to an international audience of military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, in this 11th and so far, largest iteration of this annual conference.

“The greatest counterweight that we have to any adversary actions is the network of allies and partners,” said Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commanding general, USARPAC, as he opened the panel. He highlighted the dramatic increases in scale, realism, and relevance of the U.S. Army’s training with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Flynn also mentioned the increase in multi-lateral exercises, noting that several exercises continue to grow, some with up to 30,000 soldiers from over a dozen countries participating.

One of the central ideas discussed in the panel was that the armies must strengthen the ‘strategic landpower network,’ a label for the relationships between ally and partner armies which train together toward collective security in the Indo-Pacific region. The network regularly practices its functions and builds its ties through Operation Pathways, the U.S. Army’s exercise program that brings armies together in bilateral and multilateral training across the region, with logistics linkage between exercises and countries.

“Our job is to develop, demonstrate, rehearse the collective capability that gives expression to the collective will in our region,” said Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Army, Australia. “We’re doing it better, faster every day.”

Stuart highlighted how Talisman Sabre, originally a bilateral U.S.-Australia military exercise, has grown to include more countries, more troops, and more integration in the last few years. It’s now one of the largest exercises in the region.

The other idea central to the panel’s discussion was that ‘positioning’ is essential. Stuart said that positioning allows for persistent interaction with allies and partners, which in turn develops relationships, trust, and assurance. It supports integrated deterrence and confers additional risk on a would-be aggressor.

The panel was noteworthy for the inclusion of Japan’s and South Korea’s most senior army officers, seated side by side, and talking about increasing cooperation. With the caveat that further increasing their partnership would require national policy-level reviews, each expressed interest in working closer together.

“We’re making plans towards the future with a trilateral concept with Japan and the U.S. and how we’re going to make this training beneficial for the future,” said Gen. Park An Su, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Army through an interpreter. “This trilateral collaboration is only at the starting point, but I believe we can see the expanded version sometime in the future.”

Gen. Yasunori Morishita, Chief of Staff, JGSDF said through his interpreter that the JGSDF benefits from training with the U.S. and others in ally and partner training areas such as the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC). “As Gen. Park said, it’s important for us to work together, human-to-human, to develop a shared understanding, from the senior level to the field level, to train together and develop the credibility of our collective will.”

Gen. Park and Gen. Morishita both said their countries are interested in further collaboration on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, as well as other trans-national, non-military cooperation.

Both located geographically close to China, Japan and South Korea are each long-time allies of the United States. The three countries announced a trilateral military cooperation relationship following top-level talks last summer at Camp David, Maryland. President Joe Biden, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met to discuss the details and then formally announced the agreement Aug. 18, 2023. This meeting paved the way for multilateral military exercises and facilitated information sharing about North Korea’s ballistic missile and cyber activities.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called the meeting historic. “Cooperation among our three countries delivers security and prosperity for our people, the Indo-Pacific region and the world,” he said. “We are working more closely than ever with the Republic of Korea and Japan in support of a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Gen. Flynn spoke about ‘projecting our alliances’ into the region, referring to Operation Pathways, multi-lateral collaboration at JPMRC, and the development of the strategic landpower network.

Gen. Morishita said Japan’s exercise Yama Sakura has also expanded and that the JGSDF seeks engagement with more partners in that exercise, adding that “It’s important to show the world our cooperation.”

Gen. Park expressed the same commitment to demonstrating cooperation and partnership, by practicing the defense of freedom through military exercises. He added details about Republic of Korea Army training at the U.S. National Training Center, and a U.S. Marines unit from Okinawa training in the mountains of the Korea Combat Training Center and then repeated that he looks forward to more multi-lateral training with the JGSDF.

Gen. Stuart said that building the strategic landpower network is projecting our alliances and that working with allies and partners enhances our options. He emphasized that the training creates persistent connections that are important in terms of campaigning to deter.

​The four general officers ended the panel discussion reiterating their intent to continue working together to expand security cooperation and partnership.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SEOUL, South Korea  –  

The commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and the Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps will co-host the 10th annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS 24) in Seoul, June 3-5, 2024.

PALS 24 brings together senior Marine Corps, naval infantry, and military leaders from Allied and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific. The event is an important opportunity to enhance personal and professional relationships amongst the region’s amphibious and maritime community through face-to-face engagements.

This year, the co-hosts have captured the spirit of the event by establishing its new motto, “Stronger together.” It serves as a reminder that regular collaboration among Allies and partners is the foundation of our bilateral and multilateral relationships and ability to respond to crisis and uncertainty.

“We use events like PALS to maintain and develop relationships so if any nation in the Indo-Pacific is in trouble, we already know the person on the other end of the phone,” said Lt. Gen. William Jurney, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. “As combined force leaders, we use PALS to think and talk through complex issues that may arise in the region because no one nation stands alone. Our forces are stronger together.”

PALS provides a forum for amphibious leaders to exchange ideas and share best practices, improving our collective ability to work together across a range of missions and scenarios. The experience and expertise assembled at PALS facilitates collaboration among Allies and partners from around the world in support of a free-and-open Indo-Pacific region.

The PALS 24 schedule consists of key leader engagements, panel discussions, and briefs to engage key leaders on critical topics such as amphibious force contributions across a range of military operations, challenges with operating in a maritime environment, and modernization efforts throughout the combined force. In addition to these discussion topics, delegations will present a brief on technology-based solutions for maritime domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

In response to increasing transnational and non-military threats, Lt. Gen. Kim emphasized the importance of security cooperation between nations in the Indo-Pacific. He looks forward to having this symposium be a space for fruitful discussion on specific ways we can increase and diversify the role of amphibious forces.

Since the symposium’s development, several regularly attending nation forces have co-hosted, including the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, the Republic of Indonesia Marine Corps, and, for the second time, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. The increased variety of co-hosts demonstrates the depth of commitment among our Allies and partners to build a more capable combined force across the Indo-Pacific.

Established by MARFORPAC in 2015, PALS continues to bring together a growing list of Allied and partner nations. This year, 31 delegations from 24 countries are scheduled to attend including: Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific is the largest operational command in the Marine Corps. It comprises two-thirds of the Marine Corps’ active-duty combat forces, collectively known as the “Pacific Marines.” Pacific Marines serve as an expeditionary force-in-readiness. They operate as air-ground-logistics teams and are forward positioned and actively employed throughout the Indo-Pacific every day. Pacific Marines live and work alongside the joint force and like-minded allies and partners to prevent conflict, respond to crisis, and if the Nation calls, to fight and win.

Media queries should be sent to U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Communication Strategy and Operations, marforpaccommstrat@usmc.mil

​The PALS feature page on DVIDS will provide imagery daily for use and distribution: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/PALS.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Admiral Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), met today in Singapore on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue to discuss U.S.-PRC defense relations, as well as regional and global security issues.

Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication between the United States and the PRC. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the announcement by President Biden and PRC President Xi Jinping in November 2023 that both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months, and the Secretary welcomed plans to convene a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year.

The Secretary expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan’s political transition — part of a normal, routine democratic process — as a pretext for coercive measures.  The Secretary underscored that the United States remains committed to its longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. He also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The Secretary made clear that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate — safely and responsibly — wherever international law allows.  He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea. He also discussed Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and the PRC’s role in supporting Russia’s defense industrial base. The Secretary also expressed concerns about recent provocations from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its direct contributions to Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Today’s meeting follows the Secretary’s April 16 video teleconference call with the Admiral. Department officials will continue active discussions with their PRC counterparts about future engagements between defense and military officials at multiple levels.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

As Asian American Pacific Islander Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander month draws to a close, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Office of Women, Peace & Security (USINDOPACOM WPS) spotlights leaders in the Pacific Islands working at the nexus of human rights and defense strategy.

Partnering to Build Climate Resilience:

Partner organizations such as Transcend Oceania, Pacific Center for Peacebuilding, femLINKpacific, and the Pacific Disaster Center are working every day to advance sustainable solutions to mitigate climate change impacts, advance food security, and promote effective disaster responses. Listen to leaders discuss their work in a podcast series on Building Inclusive Resilience in the Pacific produced by USINDOPACOM WPS partner Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS).

The series is just one output from a workshop on Advancing Women, Peace, and Security: Building Inclusive Resilience in the Pacific delivered by USINDOPACOM WPS, the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA), and WCAPS in August 2023.

The WPS Team continuously works with organizations such as CNA, and WCAPS to apply the guiding principles of United Nations Security Council 1325 on WPS, which acknowledges the unique impact of conflict and crisis on women and girls; recognizes women’s full participation in peace and security processes; and calls for Member States to incorporate a gender perspective within their institutions.

Additional Resources:

Watch the Climate Security event in Fiji here: https://fb.watch/oEBq6Yphjn/

Listen to the WCAPS Podcast on Building Inclusive Resilience in the Pacific here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7oRCm9i5GJZA8tSpcHiS9W

Review an executive summary of the Climate Security event here: https://www.cna.org/reports/2023/11/Building-Inclusive-Resilience-in-the-Pacific.pdf

USINDOPACOM articles:

U.S. and Pacific Islands Elevate Women’s Leadership in Climate Security in Two-day Workshop > U.S. Indo-Pacific Command > 2015 (pacom.mil)

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea  –  

In a landmark initiative aimed at promoting Women, Peace and Security (WPS) as a capability to enhance Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) institutional and organizational effectiveness, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently partnered with the PNGDF to conduct a second comprehensive Gender Focal Point training course at the Kumul Leadership Center, Murray Barracks, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from May 20-24, 2024.

The course was facilitated by the PNGDF Gender Committee with support from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Office of WPS, and trained gender advisors with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3. The intensive course focused on equipping PNGDF personnel with the tools necessary to integrate gender perspectives into their operational strategies. Participants, representing diverse backgrounds within PNGDF, engaged in comprehensive training focused on understanding gender as a core component to sustainable human security outcomes for PNG.

“Gender focal point training is geared toward giving the members of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force the tools required to provide a gender perspective and advise their leaders and commanders in military operations,” explained Mr. Chris Pasion, a planner for USINDOPACOM’s Office of WPS.

Throughout the program, participants delved into foundational concepts such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on WPS, understanding the distinctions between sex and gender, conducting gender analysis, and providing recommendations to their leadership.

“Most of the time we say gender equality, but we forget about equity. We must make an environment suitable for everyone to meet the needs of men, women, boys, and girls,” said PNGDF 2nd Lt. Babbra Thomas, a student in the course. “This is not just a women’s issue, this is all of our issue.”

This training was specifically tailored to build upon previous training and designed to facilitate PNGDF gender focal point capacity development through content delivery and small group facilitation. The PNGDF Gender Committee played a pivotal role in leading the course, demonstrating their commitment to fostering gender inclusivity within the defense force.

“The course was beneficial, especially given the increasing presence of female soldiers in our ranks. It has provided me with valuable insights into effectively working with both genders,” stated PNGDF Cpl. Ezekiel Davis. “I plan to educate my colleagues about gender-based violence and encourage male involvement in supporting women.”

The professionalism and leadership of the PNGDF Gender Committee ensured the training was relevant. By tailoring course content to the specific needs of the PNGDF, they supported the development of a resilient force capable of providing sustainable responses to an evolving complex human security landscape.

“Most of the time, we forget about men’s vulnerabilities to gender-based violence. Gender perspective must encompass the needs of all genders,” emphasized Thomas. “I now feel I have the knowledge to raise awareness and promote male involvement in my workspace.”

With the conclusion of the program, participants emerged as gender focal points, equipped with the knowledge and skills to advocate for gender initiatives within the PNGDF. The collaboration between the PNGDF and U.S. DoD underscores the commitment to fostering gender responsive initiatives within the PNGDF operational environment.

“It’s gratifying to witness the commitment of PNGDF personnel to enhancing security through gender-inclusive practices,” remarked Pasion.

As PNGDF continues to prioritize Gender, Peace and Security awareness, they stand poised to make significant strides within its organization and beyond. Through targeted training programs, PNGDF reaffirms its dedication to fostering gender inclusivity for all its personnel.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Starting on May 29, 2024, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will travel to the Indo-Pacific region for the tenth time since taking office. His trip will occur as the Department of Defense continues to strengthen U.S. relationships with allies and partners to advance regional peace, stability, and deterrence.

The Secretary will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, meet with regional counterparts, and deliver plenary remarks highlighting a new convergence of likeminded Indo-Pacific partners who share a vision for a free and open region. He will also travel to Cambodia for meetings with senior officials following his first trip to the country as Secretary of Defense in November 2022.

Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, the United States has delivered historic results in the Indo-Pacific by investing in regional capability, transforming U.S. force posture, and connecting allies and partners.

CONNECTING ALLIES AND PARTNERS 

The United States is joining together with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen regional peace and security, including through bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral efforts with:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), following the launch of an Emerging Leaders’ Defense Fellowship Program for young civilian and defense leaders in Southeast Asia.
• Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), following the 2023 completion of a multi-year trilateral exercise plan and the full activation of a real-time DPRK missile warning data-sharing mechanism — two key deliverables announced at the August 2023 Camp David Summit. 
• Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, following the second-ever meeting of defense ministers from all four countries in May 2024, where they advanced their multilateral collaboration in support of a free, open, secure, and prosperous region.
• AUKUS partners, Australia and United Kingdom, following progress on advanced capabilities cooperation and implementation of the Optimal Pathway for Australia to obtain conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. 
• The Freely Associated States, following the March 2024 passage of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act by Congress, which funded the economic assistance at the heart of the Compacts of Free Association into the 2040s and supported U.S. defense ties with three vital Pacific Islands partners.
• Allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region, with combined operations that enhance interoperability, boost deterrence, and demonstrate shared resolve against coercive behavior, including:
  • Exercise BALIKATAN with the Philippines, which featured more than 16,000 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, as well as Australian and French forces.
  • Exercise SUPER GARUDA SHIELD with Indonesia and 17 other nations represented, which featured more than 4,000 service members who participated in amphibious and airborne operations training, as well as command and control simulation.
  • Exercise COBRA GOLD with Thailand, which included 4,500 U.S. service members and participation from over 30 nations, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the ROK. 
  • Exercise FREEDOM SHIELD with the ROK, a large-scale combined field exercise which featured more than 18,000 combined U.S. and ROK military forces and built combat readiness, as well as interoperability among participating units.

TRANSFORMING U.S. FORCE POSTURE

Under President Biden’s leadership, the United States has delivered historic achievements with allies and partners to make U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific region more mobile, distributed, resilient, and lethal, including by:

• Forward deploying the Marine Corps’ most advanced formation — a U.S. Marine Littoral Regiment — to Japan by 2025, significantly enhancing combat-credible deterrence.
• Bolstering deterrence and increasing strategic asset rotations to the Korean Peninsula, including visits by U.S. carrier strike groups, port calls by U.S. ballistic missile and U.S. guided missile submarines, and the first landing of a U.S. nuclear-capable B-52 on the Peninsula in decades.
• Requesting more than $120 million in funding for infrastructure improvements at Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the Philippines through the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025, following the February 2023 announcement by the United States and the Philippines that the two countries would designate four new EDCA sites in strategic areas of the Philippines.
• Launching a series of force posture initiatives with Australia, including more expeditionary visits of U.S. submarines, increased rotations of U.S. bombers and fighters, expanded Marine and ground forces cooperation, and continuing upgrades of key bases in Australia.
• Concluding a Defense Cooperation Agreement with Papua New Guinea (PNG) that builds on decades of bilateral defense and security cooperation, strengthens the U.S.-PNG relationship, and increases regional stability and security.

INVESTING IN REGIONAL CAPABILITY 

The United States is deploying cutting-edge military capabilities in the near term, developing long-term capabilities to maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, and supporting allies and partners as they invest in their own strength by:

• Proposing major investments in U.S. military capabilities through the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2025, including $61.2 billion for air power; $48.1 billion for sea power; $33.7 billion for vital space capabilities; $14.5 billion for cyberspace activities; $4 billion to increase submarine production rates and availability; and $9.9 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which will invest in military construction, logistical support operations, and ballistic missile defense activities.
• Working closely with the Philippines to conclude a bilateral Security Sector Assistance Roadmap, which will guide shared defense modernization investments that bolster combined deterrence, improve the Philippines’ capacity to resist coercion, and enhance interoperability.
• Supporting Japan as it seeks to substantially increase its defense budget and acquires new capabilities — including counterstrike — to strengthen regional deterrence.
• Modernizing the U.S.-ROK alliance through bilateral consultations, exercises, and asset deployments to strengthen peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
• Collaborating with India on defense industry and innovation through the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), co-production of armed combat vehicles and jet engines, and mid-voyage repairs of U.S. vessels.  
• Delivering greater maritime transparency through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA), which enhances partners’ abilities to monitor and police their waters.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) May 27 and May 29 launches using ballistic missile technology in direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).  These launches continue the DPRK’s reckless behavior, which poses a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula, the region, and international peace and security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime.  The United States reiterates that its commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan are ironclad.

The DPRK’s actions will only intensify its isolation as it undermines stability and security on the Korean Peninsula.  We will continue to work closely with the international community to disrupt the DPRK’s illicit revenue generation, which supports its UNSCR-prohibited weapons programs through the exploitation of overseas workers and malicious cyber activities.  We condemn the DPRK regime’s decision to divert scarce resources away from the North Korean people toward its weapons programs.

These launches serve as a reminder of the need for all countries to fully implement DPRK-related UNSCRs that prohibit the DPRK from acquiring technologies and materials to advance its WMD and ballistic missile programs.  We urge the DPRK to abide by relevant UNSCRs and immediately cease all activities that violate them.  Together with the international community, we call on the DPRK to refrain from further provocations and accept our call for engaging in substantive dialogue without preconditions.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

TOKYO – Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), visited Japan from May 27-29, 2024 for the first time since assuming command earlier this month.
Paparo met with senior Japanese officials, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa, Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara, Japan Joint Staff Chief of Staff Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, and Deputy National Security Advisor Atsuo Suzuki. He underscored the U.S. commitment to advance our shared interest of a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.  Discussions included the DPRK’s recent missile launch and persistent violations of UN Security Council Resolutions, and trilateral cooperation between Japan, Philippine and U.S. forces following April’s first-ever leaders-level trilateral summit.
Paparo expressed appreciation to Japan for its leadership in building alliances with like-minded partners for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Both the U.S. and Japan underscored their commitment to upholding alliance agreements and the shared fundamental values of freedom, democracy and the rules-based international order in accordance with international law.
Paparo was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Brig. Gen. George Rowell IV, deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan.