politics
U.S. president signals renewed focus on North Korea nuclear issue
The U.S. president told South Korea's president that attention should now turn to North Korea after an agreement with Iran. South Korea's president conveyed the message at a G7 summit dinner and noted that sanctions on North Korea have proven ineffective.
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The U.S. president told South Korea's president that the time had come to focus on North Korea's nuclear programme, according to remarks made at a G7 summit dinner. South Korea's president relayed the comment during a news conference and added that sanctions against North Korea were ineffective.
South Korea's president also pointed to deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Officials noted that even limited assistance from Russia provides meaningful support to North Korea.
Background on the Korean Peninsula The two Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. A demilitarized zone continues to separate the two sides. North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and is believed to possess dozens of nuclear weapons.
The country has declared itself an irreversible nuclear state since a 2019 summit collapsed over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief.
Recent diplomatic activity North Korea's leader has sent troops and munitions to support Russia's war in Ukraine and hosted China's president in Pyongyang. Neither Pyongyang's nor Beijing's official statements addressed North Korean denuclearisation.
The U.S. president met North Korea's leader three times during his first term and later stated he remained open to another meeting. An offer for renewed talks has gone unanswered.
