Japan's annual diplomatic report points out that growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea not only aggravates the situation in Ukraine, but should also be of great concern in terms of regional security around Japan.



The Diplomatic Bluebook presented at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting summarizes the international situation and Japan's diplomacy over the past year.



The report notes the United Nations Security Council has not played its expected role amid Russia's continued aggression toward Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.



It adds that countries comprising the Global South are increasingly unhappy with the global governance, and that this has led to a serious divide.
The report refers to the summit in February between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and US President Donald Trump, and stresses that Japan is committed to deepening bilateral ties.



The bluebook notes that security in Europe, the Middle East and Indo-Pacific are closely linked. It vows that Japan will work to bolster partnerships with the Group of Seven and like-minded nations to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.



On China, the report says there are many challenges and concerns, such as its attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force. But it states that the two countries will both make efforts to promote a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests.