US, Japan, South Korea Renew Push for North Korea’s ‘Complete Denuclearization’

The United States, South Korea and Japan have restated their demand for the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea, despite Pyongyang’s continued refusal to abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

The renewed commitment comes amid growing speculation that US President Donald Trump could meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China.

Trump has repeatedly indicated his willingness to resume nuclear discussions with Pyongyang, raising expectations of possible diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, and Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, reaffirmed their shared position during talks on Friday on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

A statement from the US State Department said the three ministers “reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization” of North Korea.

They also agreed to pursue the “full implementation” of UN Security Council resolutions, including restrictions aimed at preventing financial support for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

North Korea, which has the backing of Russia and China, has continued to strengthen its position as a nuclear-armed state despite years of UN sanctions. Its leadership has repeatedly declared that the country’s nuclear arsenal is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Trump signals readiness for fresh talks

Trump has made several attempts to reopen nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang while reducing joint military exercises with South Korea.

Last year, he broke with a longstanding US position by describing North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power”. He also declared himself “100 percent” willing to meet Kim, although Pyongyang did not respond to the offer.

South Korean intelligence officials and analysts believe Kim may have discussed North Korea’s position on a possible meeting with Trump during a recent trip to Dandong, a Chinese city near the North Korean border.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has also continued to advocate dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions.

In September, Lee proposed that Washington consider securing a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear programme instead of insisting on its immediate elimination, with sanctions relief offered in return.

The proposal has attracted criticism from those who believe it could effectively recognise North Korea as a nuclear power while giving the country economic relief without requiring it to surrender its weapons.

Analysts have also pointed to signs that China may be moving towards tacit acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear status. They cited the omission of denuclearisation from statements released after Kim’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June.

In a further show of defiance, Pyongyang on Saturday rejected a joint statement issued by countries monitoring the enforcement of sanctions against it.

The North Korean government maintained that “the stereotyped sanctions racket of the US and the West can neither influence the position of the DPRK (North Korea) as a nuclear weapons state”.

Africans Angle News