Performing U.S. Ambassador Kevin Kim speaks throughout a gathering with ruling Democratic Get together chief Jung Chung-rai on the Nationwide Meeting in Seoul, Dec. 2. Yonhap
A U.S. envoy reaffirmed Monday that “full denuclearization” of North Korea stays the coverage shared with South Korea, after a brand new U.S. safety technique doc confirmed the phrase was absent.
Performing U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim made the comment following his assembly with First Vice Overseas Minister Park Yoon-joo, days after the Donald Trump administration launched its newest Nationwide Safety Technique (NSS).
The doc contains no point out of North Korea and comprises no language reaffirming the U.S. dedication to its denuclearization, not like the 2017 and 2022 variations, elevating issues that North Korea points could possibly be pushed to the sidelines.
“President Trump and President Lee (Jae Myung) reiterated their dedication to the entire denuclearization of North Korea within the joint reality sheet,” Kim informed reporters when requested concerning the NSS, referring to the joint summit doc just lately launched by the allies.
“That’s our Korea coverage proper now,” he stated.
Kim stated North Korea was among the many points mentioned throughout his assembly with Park, together with methods to “finest coordinate” on associated and different points.
Kim additionally famous that Seoul has reaffirmed the significance of coordination on joint army workout routines, apparently referring to rising calls in South Korea to regulate the drills with the U.S. as leverage to carry Pyongyang again to dialogue.
“(Protection) Minister Ahn beforehand reiterated absolutely the vital nature of coordinating on joint army workout routines. I feel the phrases that he used had been that army workout routines are just like the lifeline of a army. That is our expectation transferring ahead,” he stated.
Requested if the U.S. is open to revising the nuclear vitality pact to permit Seoul to complement uranium and reprocess spent gasoline, the envoy stated the 2 sides are “nonetheless in discussions.”
“We’re going to do our greatest to implement the joint reality sheet,” Kim stated.
The joint reality sheet lays out the commitments on commerce, funding, safety and different points made through the two current summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October.
Within the doc, the U.S. states assist for the method that may result in South Korea’s civil uranium enrichment and spent gasoline reprocessing for peaceable use, per their current bilateral nuclear vitality pact and topic to U.S. authorized necessities.
Within the current high-level talks in Washington, Seoul and Washington agreed to launch working teams for follow-up talks on the joint reality sheet.
