Top S. Korean, US diplomats reiterate 'resolute' commitment to NK denuclearization

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their "resolute" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and the "full" enforcement of sanctions against it during their talks in Washington on Thursday, a State Department spokesperson said.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held their first talks since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung administration last month, as Seoul and Washington face a series of cooperation issues, including preparations for a summit between Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Their meeting came just a day after Trump announced a trade deal with South Korea, saying that his summit with President Lee will take place at the White House in two weeks.

"Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho also reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK, the full implementation of international sanctions, and expressed serious concerns about North Korea's increasing military cooperation with Russia," Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson, said in a readout.

DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The chief diplomats' show of unity against North Korea's nuclear threats came days after Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, ruled out the possibility of talks on the North's denuclearization, while noting the personal relationship between Trump and Kim is "not bad."

At the talks, Cho and Rubio underscored the "unwavering" strength of the bilateral alliance, which has served as the "linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific for more than 70 years," according to Bruce.

"They expressed continued support for their mutual goal of strengthening the U.S.-ROK alliance, including through our robust combined defense posture and the continued provision of extended deterrence to the ROK," the spokesperson said. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Extended deterrence refers to the U.S.' stated commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear arms, to defend its ally.

The chief diplomats welcomed Wednesday's trade deal and the forthcoming visit to Washington by the South Korean president.

Their discussions included continued efforts to advance trilateral cooperation with Japan, and to advance the shared prosperity of South Korea and the U.S., including by strengthening supply chains and collaborating on critical and emerging technologies, she said.

Bruce also noted that both sides emphasized that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait was an "indispensable" element of security and prosperity for the international community.