The United States, Japan and South Korea have signed an agreement establishing the Tripartite Arctic Pacific Partnership (TAPP), extending their strategic and economic cooperation to the increasingly important Arctic region. Signed on October 30 in Atlanta by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, Toshimitsu Motegi and Cho Hyun, the agreement establishes a joint working group to explore Arctic shipping lanes, maritime safety, emergency response and economic opportunities, including energy resources and supply chain security. The initiative comes as melting Arctic ice creates new commercial shipping opportunities and increases strategic competition involving Russia and China. During the meeting, the three countries also confirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea, regional security and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The United States, Japan and South Korea have signed an agreement establishing the Tripartite Arctic Pacific Partnership (TAPP), extending their strategic and economic cooperation to the increasingly important Arctic region. Signed on October 30 in Atlanta by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, Toshimitsu Motegi and Cho Hyun, the agreement establishes a joint working group to explore Arctic shipping lanes, maritime safety, emergency response and economic opportunities, including energy resources and supply chain security. The initiative comes as melting Arctic ice creates new commercial shipping opportunities and increases strategic competition involving Russia and China. During the meeting, the three countries also confirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea, regional security and stability in the Taiwan Strait.