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President Moon Jae-in takes part in a trilateral summit with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Sept. 21. (by Kim Kyung-ho

The Blue House and White House have reportedly shared concerns that “distorted” reports from the Japanese press could “cause fissures” in trilateral coordination.

In a Sept. 23 telephone conversation with a senior Blue House official, a senior White House official said the situation was “disappointing and worrisome” and “what North Korea hopes for,” adding that they would communicate the same position to the Japanese government, the Blue House confirmed on Sept. 24.

During the conversation, the White House official reportedly agreed with an expression of dismay from the Blue House official, who complained that the Japanese press had “repeatedly printed distorted reports about South Korea-US-Japan summit remarks, citing Japanese government sources” and predicted “difficulties in sustaining future trilateral coordination.”

Previously, Nippon TV and other Japanese news outlets reported that the US and Japanese heads of state had protested Seoul’s plan for humanitarian aid to North Korea during a Sept. 21 luncheon among the three leaders in New York.

“Is this the time for that?” they were quoted as asking.

Other reasons for the Sept. 23 conversation included discussing responses to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s threat of a “historic ultra-hardline response” against the US and consulting on issues related to Trump’s scheduled South Korea visit in November.

By Lee Jung-ae, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]