Top admirals of Korean, U.S., Japanese naval forces to meet in Seoul to discuss trilateral cooperation
Published: 14 Apr. 2026, 21:56
![Warships of Korea, the United States and Japan including the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, bottom center, take part in the trilateral Freedom Edge exercise in international waters off Korea's southern island of Jeju on Nov. 13, 2024. [MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE/AP/YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/14/eae0425c-1374-49a1-a8a9-7600315a189b.jpg)
Warships of Korea, the United States and Japan including the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, bottom center, take part in the trilateral Freedom Edge exercise in international waters off Korea's southern island of Jeju on Nov. 13, 2024. [MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE/AP/YONHAP]
Top admirals from Korea, the United States and Japan will meet for talks in Seoul this week to discuss ways to bolster trilateral maritime security cooperation, military officials said Tuesday.
The talks between Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Stephen Koehler and Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, will take place on Wednesday, according to the officials.
The three are expected to share their assessments on the regional maritime security situation and discuss ways to cooperate trilaterally in maritime security.
The timing of the meeting has raised questions about whether the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports will be discussed.
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier called on Korea, Japan and others to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure shipping lanes amid the Iran war.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers earlier in the day that Korea has yet to receive an official request to send troops to the strait.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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