WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2016 — Representatives of the United States, South Korea and Japan conducted a senior-level videoconference yesterday to share information among the three countries regarding the two recent North Korean missile launches, according to a Defense Department statement. 

At this meeting, South Korean Brig. Gen. Park Cheol-kyun, deputy director general of the South Korean Defense Ministry’s International Policy Bureau; Christopher Johnstone, DoD’s principal director for East Asia; and Koji Kano, principal director of the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Defense Policy Bureau, represented their respective countries, the statement said.

South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed that North Korea's recent missile launches are provocative acts that represent a flagrant violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and a serious threat to peace and stability, not only on the Korean Peninsula, but also in the region, the statement said.

The defense officials condemned the missile tests and reiterated that they will continue to cooperate closely and share information on North Korea's missile threat, according to the statement.

The United States reaffirms its ironclad alliance commitments to defend South Korea and Japan. The United States will continue to work closely with South Korea and Japan, as well as the international community, to address North Korea’s provocative actions, the statement said.