Summit at presidential retreat brings leaders closer
President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive at the venue for their joint press conference after their trilateral summit at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat, in Maryland, Friday (local time). Yonhap
Heads of S. Korea, US, Japan adopt 'no-tie' dress code
By Jun Ji-hye
The gathering of President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday (local time) was conducted in a friendly and informal manner, thereby bringing the leaders closer.
Many aspects during the summit at Camp David, the U.S. presidential retreat in Maryland, including a “no-tie” dress code, were construed as the three leaders emphasizing their friendship and mutual trust, as they sought to open a new chapter in their trilateral partnership to jointly respond to challenges, provocations and threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
One example of mutual trust was the U.S. leader providing a U.S. marine helicopter to his two counterparts. After Yoon's Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews, located in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington on Thursday, he was then flown to Camp David on Friday morning in a helicopter provided by the White House. About 30 minutes later, Kishida also arrived at the venue in the same way.
President Yoon Suk Yeol alights from a U.S. marine helicopter provided by the White House as he arrives at Camp David on Friday (local time) for a trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Yonhap
The three leaders greeted each other and walked up the road together in an informal atmosphere.
When the trio headed to Laurel Lodge in Camp David where the first standalone meeting between the three countries' leaders was held, Biden was spotted putting his arm on Kishida's shoulder. After finishing their joint press conference, the U.S. president also put his arm on Yoon's shoulder.
This photo shows condolence flowers sent by U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over the recent death of his father, Yoon Ki-jung, ahead of their trilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Camp David on Friday. Courtesy of presidential office
The three leaders spent about seven hours together at Camp David. Biden offered his condolences to Yoon over the recent passing of his father by sending flowers to his hotel, and they also talked about their respective fathers while taking a walk, the presidential office said.
“Through the visit at Camp David, the leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan spent the longest hours together in one place,” Yoon's office said. “They widened their relationship by sharing views in the issues of mutual concern including the environment, culture and sports as well as the philosophy of state affairs.”
A blue ribbon badge pinned to the right lapel of Kishida's suit jacket also captured the people's attention, as it was different from Biden and Yoon, who were wearing badges of their respective national flags.
This blue ribbon worn by Japan's leader represents the Japanese civic group Sukuukai (Rescue Society), which aims to raise awareness and the hope held by all Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea that they might be rescued.
It is known that North Korea has kidnapped a total of 17 Japanese people on 12 occasions to help them train agents.
During the 2002 summit between then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim admitted to abducting Japanese people and returned five of the 17 to Japan. The fate of the remaining 12 is still unknown.
During the joint press conference at Camp David, Kishida mentioned the matter, saying it is a humanitarian issue that is restricted by time.
“I received strong support from President Yoon regarding an immediate resolution to the issue,” Kishida said.