U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner spoke today in separate calls with Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Heo Taekeun and with Japan Director-General for Defense Policy Kano Koji.  The officials discussed and strongly condemned the DPRK’s November 21 attempted space launch using ballistic missile technology as a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. 

Assistant Secretary Ratner reaffirmed the ironclad U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan.  The officials each affirmed the important achievements of the U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral relationship over the past year, including the Camp David Trilateral Summit and the goals that the Secretary and his counterparts achieved and reaffirmed during their Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on November 13.