Foreign Ministry: "Denuclearization Remains Consistent Goal for Seoul and Washington"

▲ Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (left) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Amid growing concerns that the United States might pursue negotiations with North Korea that tolerate its nuclear weapons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that South Korea and the United States still share the goal of the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

During a regular briefing today (August 25), Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Park Doo-soon addressed the omission of the term "denuclearization" in the press release regarding the phone call between the foreign ministers of South Korea and the United States. He stated, "As outlined in the joint explanatory materials from the South Korea-U.S. summit last November, both countries consistently uphold the goals of peace, stability, and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "The two countries are pursuing North Korea policy in close coordination to achieve the aforementioned goal, and related discussions took place during this recent call between the foreign ministers."

Spokesperson Park stated, "The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a position consistently maintained between South Korea and the United States, and it is also a consistent goal of the international community reaffirmed by numerous UN Security Council resolutions." He added, "The government will continue its efforts to achieve substantive progress in peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue through close cooperation with the international community."

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call yesterday, and according to the Foreign Ministry, the two ministers agreed to continue close communication and coordination between South Korea and the United States to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula and resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

However, the Foreign Ministry's press release detailing the call's outcome drew attention because it omitted the word "denuclearization," which is typically included when high-level officials from South Korea and the U.S. discuss the North Korean nuclear issue.

The U.S. State Department press release made no mention of denuclearization, nor did it mention North Korea itself.

The State Department press release only stated that the two ministers "discussed a range of issues related to the South Korea-U.S. alliance," and that "Secretary Rubio noted the need for the two countries to maintain close coordination on issues vital to the alliance."

Under normal circumstances, it might not be necessary to reaffirm that the goal of both nations is the denuclearization of North Korea. However, as U.S. President Donald Trump, who has shown enthusiasm for pushing for a summit with North Korea, appears reluctant to use the term, some raise questions about whether the U.S. maintains its existing goal of the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

There is also an assessment that the omission stems from strategic considerations, as the U.S. seeks to avoid exposing its negotiation goals or strategies while preparing to negotiate with North Korea.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※