Japan, U.S., S. Korea to Work toward N. Korea Denuclearization

July 8, 2018

Tokyo- Top diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea on Sunday agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation further to realize the full denuclearization of North Korea.

At a meeting in Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his U.S. and South Korean counterparts, Mike Pompeo and Kang Kyung-wha, confirmed the policy of achieving the comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms, and ballistic missiles.

The trio also agreed that their countries will maintain sanctions against North Korea based on U.N. Security Council resolutions until Pyongyang takes concrete action toward its denuclearization.

In their 40-minute meeting, Pompeo briefed Kono and Kang on his two-day talks with North Korean officials in Pyongyang ended Saturday, in which participants discussed how to implement the full denuclearization as promised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

At a joint news conference with Kono and Kang, Pompeo said the U.S. side had productive discussions with North Korea and that there was progress.

North Korea again promised that it is committed to the full denuclearization, Pompeo continued, adding that he raised the topic of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals during the Pyongyang talks.

Kono said he and Kang "will fully support Pompeo's efforts until the end." He also thanked the U.S. secretary of state for bringing up the abduction issue.

Kang expressed hope that the United States and North Korea will hold constructive and productive negotiations.

Regarding the Pyongyang talks, the Korean Central News Agency has carried a North Korean Foreign Ministry statement that blasted the U.S. attitude.

Ahead of the three-way meeting, Pompeo met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss bilateral cooperation, including on North Korean issues.

"The resolution of the North Korean nuclear, missile and abduction issues is extremely important not only to Japan but also to the peace and stability of the region," Abe told Pompeo.

Abe also had talks with Kang, underscoring the importance of the cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States.

Kono held bilateral talks with Pompeo and Kang.

Japan, the United States and South Korea had a meeting of their foreign heads for the first time since June 14, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump's summit with Kim in Singapore.

This is Pompeo's first visit to Japan since he took office in April. Jiji Press