Synopsis
US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have reiterated their strong commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Following their summit, they expressed serious concerns about North Korea's advancing weapons programs and emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation with South Korea in ensuring regional stability.Key Takeaways
- Reaffirmed commitment to complete denuclearization of North Korea.
- Concern over North Korea's advancing weapons programs.
- Importance of trilateral cooperation with South Korea.
- Addressing North Korea's malicious cyber activities.
- Need for multilateral cooperation in regional security.
Washington, Feb 8 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated their strong commitment on Friday to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, according to a joint statement, as Pyongyang asserted that its nuclear arsenal is not negotiable.
After their inaugural face-to-face summit, Trump and Ishiba released a statement expressing their serious concerns regarding the North's escalating weapons programs and highlighted the necessity for trilateral collaboration with South Korea.
"The two leaders articulated their serious concerns and the urgency to tackle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear and missile initiatives and reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK," the statement read.
"Both nations emphasized the importance of deterring and countering the DPRK's nefarious cyber activities and its growing military ties with Russia. Furthermore, they affirmed the significance of the Japan-US-ROK trilateral alliance in addressing the DPRK and maintaining regional peace and prosperity," they continued.
ROK refers to South Korea's official designation, while DPRK is the official name for North Korea.
The summit unfolded amid anticipation for a possible revival of Trump's personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In a Fox News interview last month, Trump indicated he would reach out to Kim again, describing the dynastic leader as a smart individual.
Trump reinforced these expectations during a joint press conference, stating that fostering a good relationship with Kim is beneficial.
"We will maintain relations with North Korea, and I have developed a good rapport with Kim Jong-un," Trump asserted.
He noted, "We had a positive relationship, and I believe it serves as a significant asset for all parties involved."
The President claimed that he "prevented the war," asserting that if he had not won the presidential election, circumstances could have turned dire.
He suggested that due to his rapport with Kim, which was nurtured through personal diplomacy during his first term, a major conflict was avoided in Korea.
Detailing his discussions with Ishiba, Trump emphasized their shared dedication to achieving 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 stated. "We remain committed to the efforts I initiated in my first term to secure safety and stability on the Korean Peninsula."
Ishiba mentioned that he had open discussions with Trump regarding various challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including matters related to North Korea, the South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.
"Concerning North Korea, we affirmed the necessity to address its nuclear and missile programs, which pose a significant threat to Japan, the US, and beyond, and that Japan and the US will unite towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea," Ishiba stated through an interpreter.
For regional security, the Prime Minister conveyed that the two leaders agreed on enhancing multilateral cooperation with like-minded nations, including through a trilateral partnership with South Korea and other US-led multilateral platforms, such as the Quad forum comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia.
Trump and Ishiba reiterated their strong opposition to any attempts by China to alter the status quo through force or coercion in the East China Sea, and to China's maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and provocative actions in the South China Sea, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
"The two leaders stressed the significance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as a crucial element for security and prosperity for the international community," the statement indicated. "They advocated for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion."
During the talks with Trump, the Prime Minister expressed his strong urgency regarding the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang decades ago.
"Now that President Trump is back in power, if we can progress towards resolving issues with North Korea, it would be welcomed," Ishiba responded when asked if he hoped to see Trump revive diplomacy with Pyongyang.
"For us, this entails not only denuclearization but also addressing the abductee issue. The families of the abductees are also aging," he added.
