(LEAD) Yoon, Kishida agree to deepen trilateral ties with U.S.

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SEOUL/TOKYO, April 17 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed during phone talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday to promote bilateral and trilateral cooperation together with the United States, Yoon's office said.

The 15-minute conversation, which was initiated at the request of the Japanese side, followed Kishida's recent trip to Washington, D.C. for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.

During the phone conversation, Yoon expressed the need to further strengthen ties not only between Seoul and Tokyo but also with Washington amid escalating tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Kishida reaffirmed Tokyo's commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and to addressing various international issues through strengthened three-way cooperation with Washington.

The two leaders also shared their opinions on their respective responses to North Korea and agreed to further develop their close cooperation in dealing with issues related to the reclusive regime.

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