U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that the trilateral relationship among the United States, South Korea and Japan is critical for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Rubio stated on social media that he'd met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in New York and posted a photo of the three holding hands.

Rubio characterized the trilateral partnership as essential for promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as advancing economic and security cooperation.

The secretary is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.