Seoul Says US Alliance Remains Aligned on North Korea Denuclearization
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said South Korea and the United States remain committed to denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula while Seoul pursues a phased approach to curbing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and seeks support from China and Russia.
South Korea and the United States remain aligned on policy toward North Korea and committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday, seeking to dispel concerns that Washington could narrow its objectives in future talks with Pyongyang.
Speaking during a parliamentary audit of the Foreign Ministry, Cho said repeated summits had confirmed the allies’ common position and their commitment to continued coordination. He said Seoul and Washington have maintained close consultations aimed at bringing North Korea back to dialogue and negotiations.
Cho described the South Korean government’s approach as phased and practical. Its immediate goals are to halt the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and then reduce them, while retaining the longer-term objective of dismantling the program. He also said Seoul would keep encouraging China and Russia to play constructive roles.
Questions about the direction of US policy intensified after President Donald Trump declined in August to directly answer whether denuclearization remained his goal in seeking renewed engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The US government subsequently reaffirmed its commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Cho’s remarks underscored Seoul’s effort to preserve that objective while leaving room for incremental steps that could produce measurable progress.
The minister said South Korea is closely watching the US midterm elections scheduled for November and will work to broaden congressional support for the alliance. His comments indicate that Seoul views bipartisan backing in Washington as important to maintaining continuity in security and diplomatic policy.
Cho also outlined Seoul’s approach to other major powers in the region. He said South Korea plans to seek high-level exchanges with China on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen in November. Seoul intends to manage sensitive matters, including Taiwan, so they do not derail improving bilateral relations.
At the same time, South Korea is keeping necessary communication channels open with Russia. Cho said Seoul has explained its North Korea policy to Moscow, raised serious concern about military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and called for that cooperation to stop.
Addressing a separate dispute with Ukraine over the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Cho said clarifying what the two governments privately agreed was necessary for bilateral ties. He said South Korea would maintain a principled response through diplomatic communication. Seoul has sought an explanation and apology after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed the transfer and his office denied that the countries had agreed to confidentiality.