SEOUL, South Korea - Top diplomats from South Korea, Japan, and China gathered in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday to discuss the resumption of their trilateral summit, which has been on hold for the past four years. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation among the three Northeast Asian neighbors, who together account for approximately 25% of the global gross domestic product.

Historical disputes stemming from Japan's wartime aggression and the strategic competition between China and the United States have previously hindered efforts to enhance trilateral cooperation. However, the foreign ministers of the three countries expressed a shared commitment to revive three-way collaboration.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin emphasized the potential for massive cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and China, stating that their countries are closely linked economically and culturally. He expressed hopes for an early South Korea-Japan-China summit, which he described as the apex of three-way cooperation.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also pledged to promote trilateral cooperation. The meeting touched upon various areas of collaboration, including addressing North Korea's evolving nuclear threats, trade, climate change, and personnel exchange.

The trilateral summit, which was supposed to be an annual event since 2008, has faced multiple suspensions and has been stalled since 2019 due to complexities and sensitive issues surrounding their relationships. South Korea and Japan's plans to strengthen trilateral security cooperation with the United States have sparked concerns from China, which is wary of containment efforts that could affect its rise to dominance in Asia.

However, the recent conciliatory tone struck by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden during their face-to-face meeting earlier this month may provide an opportunity for Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing to find ways to revive three-way cooperation.

In bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the summit, Kamikawa urged China to lift its ban on seafood imports from Japan, imposed in response to Japan's discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Wang, on the other hand, criticized Japan's wastewater release and called for an independent monitoring mechanism. These discussions reflect ongoing tensions and disagreements between the two countries.

South Korea and Japan have experienced strained relations in recent years due to historical issues stemming from Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. However, the two countries have taken significant steps to improve bilateral cooperation amid shared challenges, including North Korea's advancing nuclear program.

During the meeting between Kamikawa and Park, the recent court ruling ordering Japan to financially compensate Koreans forced into sexual slavery during the colonial period was addressed. Kamikawa expressed her regret over the verdict and urged South Korea to take appropriate steps to address breaches of international law.

Both ministers strongly condemned North Korea's recent spy satellite launch, emphasizing the importance of working together to tackle regional security threats.

Park also discussed North Korea with Wang, calling for China's constructive role in persuading North Korea to halt provocations and pursue denuclearization. Wang reaffirmed China's commitment to stability in the region, highlighting its role as a stabilizing force and advocating for stronger trade and economic ties with South Korea.

North Korea's growing nuclear-capable arsenal poses a significant security threat to South Korea and Japan. Meanwhile, China, North Korea's primary ally, has faced suspicions of insufficiently enforcing UN sanctions and covertly aiding the regime to maintain its influence on the Korean Peninsula.

Efforts to revive trilateral cooperation among South Korea, Japan, and China continue as key issues such as historical disputes, regional security, and economic collaboration remain at the forefront. The meeting in Busan marks a step towards strengthening regional ties, although challenges and complexities still persist.