JP US ROK DEFENSE TALKS

Japan, the United States and South Korea have agreed to upgrade their security relationship to enable real-time monitoring of missiles launched by North Korea. The countries will activate the new data-sharing mechanism by the end of the year.

The trilateral agreement came during a one-hour meeting in Singapore on Saturday attended by Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup. They met on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. 

A joint statement released after the talks. The statement says the US reaffirmed its "steadfast alliance commitments" to Japan and South Korea, "backed by the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear."