U.S. touts ties with Republic of Korea, Japan at trilateral meeting

(CAM-SIT) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the trilateral meeting with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan on Korean Peninsula issues underscored "deep relationship" with the two allies.

The meeting was held in Washington between chief diplomats of the three countries which aimed at coordinating positions of these countries on Korean Peninsula issues, Clinton told a press conference after concluding talks with her South Korean, Japanese counterparts.

"This meeting builds on longstanding efforts to intensify policy coordination and strategic dialogue among the three countries and reflects the need for greater trilateral cooperation in addressing enduring and emerging challenges," said a joint statement issued after the meeting.

The three countries "reaffirmed their mutual bilateral responsibilities and steadfast commitments under U.S.-South Korean and U.S.-Japanese security treaties, which serve as foundations for the two alliance relationships," it said.