Senior defense officials of Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed Friday to step up efforts to realize real-time information sharing about North Korean missiles. During the meeting, the officials said they also discussed the regularization of three-way missile defense and anti-submarine drills to deter and respond to North Korea, which, according to its official media, fired the Hwasong-18 ICBM propelled by a three-stage rocket system on Thursday. The rapprochement has fueled expectations for stronger trilateral cooperation, with the United States expressing "full support" in the statement for the renewed commitment by Japan and South Korea to facilitate communication among defense authorities, especially in leveraging the GSOMIA