The United States, South Korea and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea, urging Pyongyang to ease regional tensions and engage in diplomatic efforts towards lasting peace.
The commitment was reiterated on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a trilateral meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to the US State Department, the three diplomats reaffirmed their “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization” of North Korea and the full implementation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The ministers also agreed to maintain a strong deterrence posture through close security coordination while pursuing peace, stability and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. They further stressed the need to enforce international sanctions targeting activities that generate revenue for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho said Seoul would play a role in efforts to establish a peace framework on the Korean Peninsula and facilitate the resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. The ministers also commended the work of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, which tracks North Korea’s violations and evasion of international sanctions.
The meeting comes amid renewed regional tensions following North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches and its continued rejection of demands to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. Pyongyang has repeatedly described its nuclear arsenal as permanent and essential to national security.
The diplomatic discussions also come as US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again, with speculation surrounding a possible encounter at next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China. However, no meeting has been officially confirmed.
Separately, the three countries agreed to strengthen cooperation on economic security, including critical mineral supply chains, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. They also signed a memorandum establishing the Trilateral Arctic-Pacific Partnership to explore maritime safety and economic cooperation in the Pacific Arctic region.
The renewed declaration highlights the continued alignment of Washington, Seoul and Tokyo on North Korea’s nuclear programme, even as diplomatic efforts to persuade Pyongyang to return to negotiations remain uncertain.