Trilateral Talks: US, South Korea, Japan Discuss North Korea

US, South Korean, and Japanese diplomats held a phone call to discuss North Korea, particularly its growing ties with Russia. The discussion also focused on trilateral security cooperation and urging China to influence North Korea towards reducing regional tensions.

Diplomats from the United States, South Korea, and Japan held a phone call to discuss North Korea's increasing alignment with Russia, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department released on Friday.

The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kirtenbrink, joined South Korean Vice Foreign Minister for Strategy and Intelligence Cho Koo-rae and Japanese Foreign Ministry Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki in the conversation. They aimed to further trilateral security cooperation.

The diplomats also called on China to exert its influence over North Korea to help reduce tensions in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)