US, Japan and South Korea Renew Call for North Korea’s Nuclear Disarmament

International Desk | PNN

The United States, South Korea and Japan have once again called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The top diplomats of the three countries reaffirmed their position on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta, United States. Pyongyang, however, has repeatedly rejected demands to give up its nuclear weapons.

According to a statement from the US State Department, the foreign ministers of the three countries reaffirmed their “strong commitment” to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea. They also pledged to fully implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including measures aimed at preventing financial support for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The meeting was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

The renewed position comes as US President Donald Trump continues efforts to improve relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During his first term, Trump held several historic meetings with Kim. More recently, he has referred to the North Korean leader as a “friend” and expressed interest in meeting him again.

Last year, Trump appeared to signal a shift in longstanding US policy by effectively acknowledging North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. He is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China next month, where speculation has emerged that he could again make contact with Kim.

Analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency believe Kim may have conveyed Pyongyang’s position on possible talks to Beijing during a recent visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who has repeatedly proposed talks with North Korea without preconditions, said in September that Washington should consider negotiating an initial suspension of North Korea’s nuclear programme rather than immediately demanding its complete dismantlement.

He also suggested that sanctions relief could be considered in return for such a step.

However, critics fear that this approach could effectively amount to accepting North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. They also warn that Pyongyang could benefit from sanctions relief without giving up its weapons stockpile.

Despite longstanding United Nations sanctions, North Korea, which has the backing of Russia and China, has established itself in law as a nuclear-armed state. Its government has declared its nuclear arsenal permanent and irreversible.

On Saturday, Pyongyang also condemned a joint statement issued by several countries monitoring the implementation of sanctions. North Korea said the familiar sanctions strategy pursued by the United States and Western countries would not change its status as a nuclear-armed state.