"The Ultimate Goal is the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" Biden Reaffirms Commitment to Diplomatic Engagement

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his diplomatic commitment to North Korea's denuclearization on the 21st (local time). He appointed Sung Kim, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as the Special Representative for North Korea. He left open the possibility of a summit with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, provided there is "substantial progress" in denuclearization. However, he stated that if there is no significant progress through preliminary working-level talks, he would not meet.

President Biden announced at a joint press conference held after his first summit with President Moon Jae-in at the White House that he would appoint Sung Kim as the Special Representative for North Korea. Since former Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun resigned in January, the position had been vacant for four months.

Biden said, "The complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is our goal." He added regarding North Korea's denuclearization, "I am not under any illusions," and "The last four administrations have failed to achieve this goal. It is an incredibly difficult goal to realize."

Regarding the possibility of a North Korea-U.S. summit, he emphasized that it is possible but must be preceded by North Korea's advanced commitments to denuclearization. President Biden said, "If he makes any commitments, I will meet him," adding, "These commitments must involve discussions about nuclear weapons." This was interpreted as his intention to meet only after confirming substantial commitments on denuclearization through working-level negotiations.

President Biden has criticized former President Donald Trump's North Korea-U.S. summits for not only failing to advance denuclearization but also legitimizing North Korea's regime in the international community. Bearing this in mind, he said, "I will not do what recently happened."

He evaluated that President Moon is his second face-to-face summit partner, reflecting how much the U.S. values its 70-year alliance with South Korea. He added that the partnership between the two countries is based on a commitment to shared security, and the ROK-U.S. alliance has long been a cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.