The United States, South Korea and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea amid renewed diplomatic efforts to bring Pyongyang back to nuclear negotiations.
The three countries restated their position on Friday during a meeting of their foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, according to the US State Department.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reaffirmed their “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearisation” of North Korea.
They also pledged to ensure the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including restrictions on activities that generate revenue for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The renewed commitment comes as North Korea continues to reject disarmament, despite years of international sanctions.
Pyongyang has enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state in law and repeatedly declared that its nuclear arsenal is permanent and irreversible.
Trump Open to Meeting Kim Jong Un
The diplomatic development comes amid growing speculation about a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China.
Trump has repeatedly expressed willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, including proposing another meeting with Kim.
During his first term, Trump held historic summits with the North Korean leader. However, his latest overtures have yet to produce a response from Pyongyang.
Last year, Trump departed from longstanding US policy by describing North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power” while expressing his willingness to engage Kim in talks.
Analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency believe Kim may have communicated Pyongyang’s position on potential talks with Trump to Beijing during a recent visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has also repeatedly offered to engage North Korea in dialogue without preconditions.
In September, Lee suggested that Washington consider securing a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear programme rather than demanding its immediate elimination, potentially in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, critics argue that such an arrangement could amount to tacit acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear status while allowing the country to secure sanctions relief without surrendering its weapons.
North Korea Rejects International Pressure
Despite longstanding international sanctions, North Korea has maintained its nuclear weapons programme, with support from Russia and China.
There are also indications that China may be moving towards tacit acceptance of Pyongyang’s nuclear status.
Analysts have pointed to the omission of North Korea’s denuclearisation from statements released after Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping in June.
On Saturday, Pyongyang criticised a joint statement issued by countries monitoring the implementation of sanctions against it.
North Korea insisted that Western sanctions would not change its position as a nuclear weapons state.
The latest diplomatic push by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo therefore comes against the backdrop of continued disagreements over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the prospects of renewed negotiations.
