Diplomats reaffirm push for North Korea’s denuclearization
The United States, South Korea, and Japan have once again emphasized their demand for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, a request Pyongyang has consistently rejected.
The three nations addressed the issue during the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday. Their top diplomats reaffirmed a “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearisation” of North Korea, according to a statement released by the US Department of State.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also committed to the “full implementation” of United Nations Security Council resolutions. These resolutions aim to restrict revenue streams supporting North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The joint statement comes despite ongoing efforts by US President Donald Trump to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump has previously held summits with Kim and has described him as a “friend.”
Last year, Trump acknowledged North Korea’s status, stating it was “sort of a nuclear power.” He has recently downplayed concerns about the nation’s nuclear program and has expressed interest in another meeting with Kim. Speculation suggests a potential reconnection between the two leaders at next month’s APEC summit in China.
Intelligence reports and analysis suggest Kim may have communicated Pyongyang’s stance on potential talks with Trump to Beijing during a recent visit to Dandong, a border city in China.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, known for his willingness to engage with Pyongyang, proposed in September that Washington consider a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
This approach has faced criticism, with some arguing it could implicitly accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state while granting Pyongyang sanctions relief without disarmament.
Despite ongoing United Nations sanctions, North Korea, supported by Russia and China, has legally declared itself a nuclear weapons state. Pyongyang has asserted that its nuclear arsenal is permanent and irreversible.
In response to a recent statement from nations monitoring sanctions implementation, North Korea denounced the measures, asserting that they cannot alter its status as a nuclear weapons state.
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“US, South Korea, Japan call for ‘complete denuclearisation’ of North Korea”
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