US reaffirms North Korea denuclearization as top policy priority

A senior U.S. State Department official has reaffirmed that the denuclearization of North Korea is a paramount objective of the Trump administration's policy toward Pyongyang. The official stated that the U.S. remains open to dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, provided that North Korea demonstrates a genuine willingness to engage.

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North Korean denuclearization remains our top priority.

David Stilwell, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, emphasized this stance during a policy forum in Washington. He noted that the commitment to North Korean denuclearization was explicitly mentioned in a joint statement following a summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as in the G7 summit's communique.

"Regardless of how those efforts unfold, North Korean denuclearization remains our top priority," Stilwell asserted, indicating that future joint statements would also reflect this shared commitment. He reiterated the U.S. position: "If Chairman Kim is ready to talk, the Trump administration is ready to talk."

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If Chairman Kim is ready to talk, the Trump administration is ready to talk.

Regarding South Korea's desire to regain wartime operational control of its forces, Stilwell expressed concerns. He stressed that the transfer of control must be condition-based, requiring South Korea to possess adequate deterrence capabilities, military strength, and necessary resources. Failure to meet these conditions, he warned, could create vulnerabilities that adversaries might exploit.

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The transfer of control must be condition-based.