North Korea denuclearization backed by US, Seoul, Tokyo

The United States, South Korea and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea, the US State Department said, as Pyongyang continues to reject disarmament.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi made the pledge during talks on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, the department said.

The three countries also pledged “full implementation” of UN Security Council resolutions, including measures barring support for revenue linked to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

The statement came as speculation grows over a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at an upcoming APEC summit in China. Trump has repeatedly said he is open to nuclear talks with Pyongyang.

North Korea has enshrined its nuclear-armed status in law and has repeatedly described its arsenal as permanent. Pyongyang also denounced a separate sanctions-monitoring statement on Saturday, saying sanctions would not change what it called North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state.