The U.S., Japan and South Korea agreed to strengthen cooperation, forging a firmer three-way alliance at a time of growing assertiveness by China and belligerence from North Korea.   

The higher-level partnership struck Friday at a landmark summit binds the U.S. and its two closest Asian allies more closely together after years in which antagonism between Japan and South Korea frustrated cooperation.  

As part of those closer ties, Washington, Tokyo and Seoul are committing to consult on mutual threats, work together on ballistic missile defense, conduct joint military exercises and hold annual summits to keep the momentum going, according to officials.

To underscore the importance of the partnership, President Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held the summit at Camp David. It marked the first visit by foreign leaders to the presidential retreat since 2015 and the first time leaders of the three countries have held a stand-alone summit, instead of gathering on the sidelines of another event.