The United States, South Korea and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea amid renewed speculation about possible nuclear negotiations between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The three countries restated their position during a meeting of their foreign ministers on Friday on the sidelines of a Group of 20 (G20) gathering 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 denuclearization” of North Korea.
They also pledged to ensure the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including measures aimed at preventing revenue and other support from reaching North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
The renewed commitment comes as Pyongyang continues to reject international pressure to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. North Korea has enshrined its status as a nuclear-armed state in law and repeatedly described its nuclear arsenal as permanent and irreversible.
Despite years of international sanctions, the country has continued to develop its military capabilities, while strengthening ties with Russia and China.
Diplomatic attention has increasingly focused on the possibility of a meeting between Trump and Kim at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China. Trump has repeatedly expressed willingness to resume nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, although no meeting has been confirmed.
During his previous diplomatic engagement with Kim, Trump pursued direct talks aimed at reducing tensions and addressing North Korea’s nuclear programme. However, those efforts did not produce a lasting agreement on denuclearisation.
Trump has also adjusted aspects of Washington’s approach to North Korea, including calls for renewed dialogue and changes to joint military exercises with South Korea.
The US president previously described North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power”, a remark that raised concerns among critics who fear that recognising Pyongyang’s nuclear status could weaken international efforts to secure its disarmament.
Analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency have suggested that Kim may have communicated Pyongyang’s position on possible talks with Trump to Chinese officials during a recent visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has also repeatedly offered dialogue with North Korea without preconditions. In September, he suggested that Washington could consider pursuing a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear programme rather than insisting on its immediate elimination, potentially in exchange for sanctions relief.
Supporters of such an approach argue that limiting further nuclear development could be a practical step towards reducing security risks. Critics, however, warn that sanctions relief in exchange for a freeze could effectively allow North Korea to retain its nuclear arsenal while weakening international pressure for complete denuclearisation.
China’s position has also attracted attention. Analysts have pointed to the reported omission of North Korean denuclearisation from statements following a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a possible indication of changing diplomatic priorities.
Meanwhile, Pyongyang has continued to reject international sanctions and efforts to monitor their enforcement. On Saturday, North Korea denounced a joint statement by countries monitoring the implementation of sanctions, insisting that external pressure would not change its status as a nuclear weapons state.
The latest declaration by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo underscores their continued opposition to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. However, whether renewed diplomatic engagement can produce meaningful progress remains uncertain, particularly as Pyongyang continues to reject demands to relinquish its nuclear weapons.
