SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President&nbsp;Yoon&nbsp;Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that trilateral&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;with the United States and&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;has become more important than ever to&nbsp;overcoming&nbsp;North Korea's growing nuclear&nbsp;threats&nbsp;and other crises.
Yoon&nbsp;spoke at an event commemorating the country's historic March First independence movement against&nbsp;Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.
"Japan&nbsp;has transformed from a militaristic aggressor of the past into a partner that shares the same universal values with&nbsp;us," said&nbsp;Yoon.
"Today Korea and&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;cooperate on issues of security and economy. We also work together to cope with global challenges... We must stand in solidarity with countries that share universal values."
Yoon's comments come after South Korea's presidential office said on Tuesday that officials from South Korea, the United States and&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;have held their first economic security dialogue, amid efforts to strengthen supply chain resilience and develop technology.
Though&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and South Korea are at times uneasy neighbours, the three countries are keen to expand&nbsp;cooperation&nbsp;in various&nbsp;fields in the face of increased global tensions, a more assertive China and an unpredictable North Korea.
Last November,&nbsp;Yoon&nbsp;and&nbsp;Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to continue discussions for a prompt resolution of pending issues, according to&nbsp;Yoon's office, as they seek to improve relations dogged by historical disputes.
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(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael Perry)

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S.Korea's Yoon says cooperation with US, Japan key to overcoming N.Korea threats