US, Japan, S Korea renew calls for ‘complete denuclearisation’ of North Korea

The United States, South Korea and Japan have once again called for “complete denuclearisation” of North Korea on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his counterparts from the two nations met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

According to a joint statement released on Saturday, they renewed their “resolute” pledge to seek the “complete denuclearisation” of North Korea in their meeting.

“The secretary and foreign ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs),” the joint statement said, referring to North Korea as DPRK.

The top diplomats expressed concerns over the North’s ongoing weapons development, as well as what they described as “malicious” activities, including cyber “thefts”, carried out internationally at the behest of Pyongyang.

“They expressed their serious concerns over and the need to address together the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs, malicious cyber activities including cryptocurrency thefts, and increasing military cooperation with Russia,” the joint statement added.

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The three diplomats said they would keep the international sanctions against Pyongyang in place and strengthen them.

Pyongyang, for its part, says its military activities are a deterrent against invasions.

In the meantime, North Korea’s closest ally China has voiced concern over the continued military pressure mounted by the US and its allies on countries in the Indo-Pacific region opposed to US hegemony.

Beijing officials warn that US military cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries could undermine peace and stability in the region, escalating tensions into an international conflict.

Rubio has been appointed by US President Donald Trump to manage US international affairs around the globe.

Trump, during his first tenure, had three failed meetings with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un on denuclearisation.

Kim says an expansion in US military cooperation with South Korea and Japan poses a grave threat to his nation.

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