US-South Korea to Co-ordinate Efforts for Denuclearization of North Korea

The US and South Korea have pledged to maintain close coordination to ensure the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and reaffirmed the importance of US-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation – especially in the security and economic realm.

Crux of the Matter

1. The US State department released a statement in this regard after the US Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha in Nagoya, Japan on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on November 23.

2. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kang also reiterated their commitment to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as outlined in the Joint U.S.-ROK Factsheet released on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit November 2.

Curiopedia

North Korea’s WMDs – North Korea has a military nuclear weapons program and, as of early 2019, is estimated to have an arsenal of approximately 20–30 nuclear weapons and sufficient fissile material for an additional 30–60 nuclear weapons. North Korea has also stockpiled a significant quantity of chemical and biological weapons. In 2003, North Korea withdrew from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Since 2006, the country has been conducting a series of six nuclear tests at increasing levels of expertise, prompting the country to come under sanctions. More Info

Curated Coverage

1. Korea JoongAng Daily – Seoul, Tokyo prepare for summit

2. The New York Times – South Korea Asked U.S. for Help in Resolving Issues With Japan: South Korea Statement

3. l KBS WORLD Radio – US State Dept: Kang, Sullivan Reaffirm Importance of Seoul, Washington, Tokyo Cooperation

#Denuclearization #Geopolitics #NorthKorea #USA