BRUSSELS (Kyodo) -- The foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea on Thursday voiced "serious concerns" over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as well as its growing military cooperation with Russia, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Stocks in auto export powerhouses Japan and South Korea both plunged Monday in anticipation of stiff new tariffs on Asian goods imported into the U.S. that are set to go into effect Wednesday.

The comments came after the three countries held their first economic dialogue in five years. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that the importance of bilateral cooperation with South Korea will not change, after

Asian nations have been hit worst from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with 34% tariffs being imposed on China, 46% on Vietnam, 26% on India, and 26% on South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to impose a 10 percent "baseline" tariff on imports from all foreign countries, as well as "reciprocal" tariffs, including 25 percent duties for South Korea,

The trip was clearly intended to remove recurring questions on Taiwan, for which Congress last year approved the sale of $1 billion in arms and equipment.