Trilateral defense cooperation strengthened during 2017 LANPAC

Photo By Capt. Aaron Moshier | Gen. Robert B. Brown (center), Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, held the early morning tri-lateral meeting, in Honolulu, Hawaii, with General Jang Jun-Gyu (left), Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army, and General Toshiya Okabe (right), Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, prior to the start of the 2017 Land Forces Pacific Symposium on May 23, 2017. USARPAC's commitment to the defense of its allies, the Republic of Korea and Japan, is ironclad. (Photo by Lt. Col. Christine Nelson-Chung)  

HONOLULU, HI, UNITED STATES

06.02.2017

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs Office

General Robert B. Brown, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific, held an early morning trilateral meeting on May 23 in Honolulu, Hawaii, with General Jang Jun-Gyu, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army, and General Toshiya Okabe, Chief of Staff, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, prior to the start of the 2017 LANPAC Symposium.

Both Gen. Jang and Gen. Okabe agreed when Gen. Brown remarked, "This historic meeting between such tremendous partners demonstrates the ironclad relationship between our three countries and is more important now than at any time."

The three leaders shared consensus that cooperation between the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea is of the utmost importance in the face of threats from North Korea. Readiness, training and interoperability of their forces were among the priorities as they discussed security and cooperation across the Pacific, readiness of land forces, and integration of those land forces into multiple domains.

The annual LANPAC event has grown significantly in scope and impact since it began in 2013. Army leaders from 27 countries across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region discussed topics during fifteen panels and forums and met with industry partners, but this was the first trilateral meeting of this kind. The breakfast meeting laid the foundation for future discussions on trilateral defense cooperation. Brown added that such meetings are significant in that they "enable cooperation among regional powers in Northeast Asia".

Gen. Brown, Okabe and Jang agreed to a follow-up meeting at the Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference/ Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAC/PAMS) being co-hosted by the Republic of Korea and the United States in September 2017.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2017
• Date Posted: 06.02.2017 00:46
• Story ID: 236097
• Location: HONOLULU, HI, US