US envoy says "denuclearization" of N. Korea remains US’s policy

(MENAFN) A senior American diplomat said Monday that Washington’s long-standing objective of achieving the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea remains unchanged, as reported by South Korean outlets.

Acting US Ambassador to Seoul Kevin Kim delivered the clarification after holding talks with South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo. His remarks came shortly after the Trump administration unveiled its latest National Security Strategy, a document that notably omitted any reference to Pyongyang’s denuclearization efforts, according to reports.

Kim pointed to the leaders’ most recent summit statement to underscore that the policy has not shifted. "President Trump and (South Korean) President Lee (Jae Myung) reiterated their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in the joint fact sheet," he told journalists.

"That is our Korea policy right now," he added.

The envoy noted that discussions with Park covered North Korea and broader regional coordination, saying the two sides continue exploring the best ways to align their approaches.

When asked whether Washington is considering changes to the bilateral nuclear energy agreement that would allow South Korea to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel, Kim responded that negotiations are ongoing. "We are going to do our best to implement the joint fact sheet," he said.

The joint document issued after the late-October meeting between Trump and President Lee in Busan stated that the two leaders “reiterated their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK (North Korea) and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

Following the release, North Korea’s state media condemned the statement, claiming it "established a policy of hostility and confrontation" toward Pyongyang.

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