US, Japan, South Korea generals hold first meeting since outbreak

Trilateral consultation stresses importance of rules-based international order

The joint chiefs of staff of South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., center left to right, addressed North Korea in their meeting in Hawaii. (Photo courtesy of Japan's Ministry of Defense)

JUNNOSUKE KOBARA, Nikkei staff writer

May 3, 2021 03:30 JST

Updated on May 3, 2021 05:19 JST

TOKYO -- The top uniformed officials of the U.S., Japan and South Korea met recently in Hawaii to address concerns about North Korea and discuss the importance of promoting a rules-based international order in the region.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. Koji Yamazaki, chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Joint Staff; and Gen. Won In-choul, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, gathered in Hawaii on Thursday local time to mark the first in-person meeting of the three countries' top brass since the global pandemic.