South Korea and the U.S. Remain Committed to Denuclearization Goals on the Korean Peninsula

Seoul, August 25: South Korea and the United States reaffirm their commitment to achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. This statement was made by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. It follows a recent phone conversation between the top diplomats of both countries, where the term ‘denuclearization’ was notably absent from the official details.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry released details of a phone call on Monday between Foreign Minister Park Jin and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the conversation touched on resolving North Korea’s nuclear issues, the term ‘denuclearization’ was not explicitly mentioned.

In a separate account from the U.S. State Department, there was also no clear reference to North Korea’s nuclear issues or denuclearization. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott only emphasized that Rubio highlighted the need for close coordination on matters vital to the alliance between the two nations.

During a regular press briefing, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-sun stated that Seoul and Washington continue to prioritize peace, stability, and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. He noted that these goals were also outlined in the joint explanatory materials released after last November’s South Korea-U.S. summit.

Park mentioned that both countries are working in coordination on policies related to North Korea to achieve these objectives, and discussions on these issues took place during the recent phone call between the foreign ministers.

Meanwhile, questions are arising regarding Washington’s policy amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to re-establish contact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump has expressed hopes for another meeting with Kim by the end of this year. However, he declined to clarify last week whether denuclearization remains a goal in the renewed talks with Kim.

Additionally, last week, under Trump’s direction, South Korea and the U.S. limited their joint military exercises. This move is seen as a soft step towards reducing tensions with North Korea and creating a conducive atmosphere for dialogue.

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