The United States, South Korea, and Japan have reiterated their persistent demand for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. The declaration, which comes as Pyongyang maintains its status as a nuclear-armed state, was issued by the three nations on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit held in Atlanta on Thursday.
According to a readout provided by the US Department of State, the top diplomats from the three countries—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 denuclearisation” of the Korean Peninsula. The officials also pledged to ensure the “full implementation” of United Nations Security Council resolutions, specifically those aimed at curbing revenue streams that support North Korea’s ballistic missile and atomic weapons development.
This unified stance arrives amid shifting diplomatic signals from the United States. US President Donald Trump, who previously held a series of historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first presidential term, has continued to refer to Kim as a “friend.” Despite the trilateral demand for denuclearisation, speculation is growing that President Trump and Kim could potentially reconnect during the upcoming APEC summit in China next month.
The diplomatic maneuvering follows a period of complex relations. Last year, President Trump departed from long-standing US policy by suggesting that North Korea should be viewed as a “sort of a nuclear power.” More recently, he has expressed a desire for a new meeting with the North Korean leader, even as analysts and South Korean intelligence suggest that Pyongyang may have already communicated its position on potential talks to Beijing during a recent visit to the border city of Dandong.
Within South Korea, President Lee Jae Myung has advocated for a different approach. In September, he suggested that Washington might consider seeking a freeze of the North’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, rather than insisting on immediate and complete elimination. However, this proposal has faced criticism from observers who argue that such a path could result in the tacit acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, allowing Pyongyang to benefit from reduced economic pressure without surrendering its military arsenal.
For its part, Pyongyang has remained defiant. Despite years of international sanctions enforced by the United Nations—and supported by both Russia and China—North Korea has officially enshrined its nuclear status into its national law. The government in Pyongyang has repeatedly declared its atomic capabilities to be both permanent and irreversible.
Most recently, the North Korean leadership dismissed a joint statement issued by a coalition of nations tasked with monitoring sanctions. Pyongyang characterised these efforts as a “stereotyped sanctions racket,” asserting that such measures by the United States and Western nations would have no impact on its established position as a nuclear weapons state. As the international community navigates these conflicting positions, the path forward remains uncertain with the upcoming APEC summit seen as a potential venue for further developments in the region.
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