YONGSAN ARMY GARRISON, Republic of Korea (ROK) -- General Vincent K. Brooks, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea commander met with Gen. Toshiya Okabe, Chief of Staff, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force in Washington, D.C., Oct. 5, to discuss the need for greater cooperation between the U.S. military and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force to address North Korea’s evolving nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The leaders met on the sidelines of the 2016 Annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting and Exposition and shared views on the importance of increasing dialogues and engagements between the U.S., ROK and Japan to address options to deter North Korea from future provocations.  

Following their meeting, Gen. Brooks and Gen. Okabe delivered remarks to more than 120 audience members during AUSA’s Pacific Region Breakfast regarding the importance of combined military cooperation in the Asia Pacific region to counter the North Korean threat.

The AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition is one of the largest land warfare expositions and professional development forums in the world. It includes informative presentations, panel discussions on pertinent military and national security subjects, and workshops.