Synopsis
The South Korean foreign ministry commended the recent summit between the US and Japanese leaders, reaffirming their commitment to denuclearization of North Korea. This meeting focused on addressing North Korea's weapons programs and emphasized trilateral cooperation.Key Takeaways
- South Korea welcomes US-Japan summit.
- Commitment to North Korea's denuclearization is reaffirmed.
- Trilateral cooperation is emphasized.
- Trump expresses willingness to engage with Kim Jong-un again.
- Ishiba and Trump discuss Indo-Pacific challenges.
Seoul, Feb 8 (NationPress) The South Korean foreign ministry expressed its appreciation on Saturday for the recent summit between the United States and Japan, where the leaders reaffirmed their dedication to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
On Friday (Washington time), US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba voiced their concerns regarding North Korea's advancing weapons programs and emphasized the significance of trilateral cooperation with South Korea during their initial in-person summit.
"The perspectives shared by the US and Japan at the summit concerning the Korean Peninsula, which include addressing North Korea's illegal cyber endeavors and military collaboration with Russia while pursuing dialogue with North Korea through trilateral cooperation, resonate with our policy direction that has been consistently communicated to the US through various channels at all levels," stated the ministry.
Seoul is committed to continuing its diplomatic initiatives for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, based on robust trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo.
The summit on Friday occurred amid hopes for the potential revival of Trump's personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump indicated he would reach out to Kim again, referring to the North Korean leader as a "smart guy".
During a joint press conference, Trump reiterated that maintaining a good relationship with Kim is "a good thing, not a bad thing".
"We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong-un. I got along with him very well," Trump added.
He further stated, "We had a good relationship, and I believe it's a significant asset for everyone that I do get along with him."
The President claimed that he "stopped the war" and that had he not won the presidential election, the situation could have turned dire.
He implied that his relationship with Kim, developed through personal diplomacy during his first term, prevented a serious conflict from erupting in Korea.
Detailing his discussions with Ishiba, Trump highlighted their mutual commitment to ensuring stability on the Korean Peninsula.
"The Prime Minister and I will collaborate closely to uphold peace and security, advocating for peace through strength across the Indo-Pacific," he remarked. "To that end, we will continue the efforts I initiated in my first term to guarantee safety and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
Ishiba noted that he had "candid" discussions with Trump about various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, including issues related to North Korea, the South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.
