The United States, South Korea and Japan have restated their commitment to ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, despite Pyongyang’s continued refusal to abandon its nuclear arsenal.
The three countries made the commitment during a meeting between their foreign ministers on Friday, held on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) gathering in Atlanta, Georgia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi agreed on the need for the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea, according to a statement from the US State Department.
They also pledged to ensure the full enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including measures aimed at preventing financial support for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The renewed commitment comes as speculation grows over a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China.
Trump has repeatedly expressed willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, although previous attempts to arrange talks have not produced a meeting.
The US president has also reduced joint military exercises with South Korea as part of efforts to create room for diplomatic engagement.
However, North Korea has maintained that its nuclear weapons status is permanent and has rejected calls to give up its arsenal. The country has also criticised efforts by the US and its allies to enforce sanctions.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has proposed negotiations without preconditions and suggested that Washington could initially seek a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, rather than demand immediate disarmament.
The proposal has attracted criticism from those who argue that such an arrangement could effectively recognise North Korea as a nuclear-armed state while allowing it to retain its weapons.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang dismissed a recent joint statement by countries monitoring sanctions enforcement, insisting that Western restrictions would not change its status as a nuclear weapons state.
Analysts have also pointed to signs that China may be becoming more accepting of North Korea’s nuclear status, although Beijing has not formally abandoned the international position calling for denuclearisation.
