American–Japanese–Korean trilateral pact facts for kids
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| Nickname | JAROKUS |
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| Formation | 18 August 2023 |
| Type | Military alliance |
| Purpose | Collective security |
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Membership
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The American–Japanese–Korean trilateral pact, also known as JAROKUS or the Camp David Principles, is a special agreement between Japan, South Korea, and the United States. It was announced on August 18, 2023, at Camp David in the United States. This pact means the three countries have agreed to work together on important issues, especially for safety. It's one of several alliances led by the U.S., like Quad Plus and AUKUS.
Contents
Why This Pact Was Formed
Japan and South Korea Becoming Friends Again
For a long time, relations between Japan and South Korea were difficult. This was because Japan ruled Korea from 1910 to 1945. However, recently, leaders from both countries have worked hard to improve their friendship.
In March 2023, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made big steps to fix past issues. Both countries have also supported Ukraine during the conflict there. This shows they are working together more closely.
Keeping the Indo-Pacific Safe
The Indo-Pacific region is a very important area. The United States has been concerned about China's growing influence there. Also, North Korea has caused worries. For example, in October 2022, North Korea launched a missile over Japan. In March 2023, they made threats towards South Korea.
To help with these concerns, Japan and South Korea now get real-time information about North Korea's missiles from the United States. In April 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden said that any attacks on South Korea by North Korea would have serious consequences. South Korea also talked about being ready to defend itself.
The Camp David Meeting
The pact was announced at Camp David on August 18, 2023. This was a special meeting because it was the first time international leaders had visited Camp David since 2015. President Biden hosted the leaders of Japan and South Korea there. It was also the first time during Biden's presidency that journalists were allowed to report from Camp David.
How the Pact Works
This agreement means that if one of the three countries is threatened, the others will see it as a threat to all of them. However, it's not exactly like a full military defense pact where everyone automatically fights back. Instead, if one country is attacked, the others must discuss how to respond together.
The pact also helps the three countries work better on missile defense. They will do more joint military exercises. They plan to create a strong safety plan for the entire Indo-Pacific region.
The first meeting to discuss these plans happened on January 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Officials from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. talked about working with other countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. They also focused on making sure the region's economy stays strong and safe. These meetings will happen every year.
See also
- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
- AUKUS
- United States foreign policy toward the People's Republic of China
- Foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration
