What did the United States and Japan agree on regarding North Korea in Tokyo?

Allison Hooker and Hiroyuki Namazu reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and the immediate resolution of the abductions issue during the second U.S.-Japan Free and Open Indo-Pacific Dialogue.

What issues did the United States and Japan discuss besides North Korea’s denuclearization?

The talks covered defense industrial cooperation, stronger security coordination with regional allies and partners, Japan’s cooperation with NATO, economic security, critical minerals supply chains, energy security, and maritime security in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

US, Japan reaffirm commitment to complete denuclearization of N. Korea in high-level talks

Q: Why did the talks draw attention to possible renewed US-North Korea diplomacy?

The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed willingness to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, prompting speculation about renewed diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.

Listen

Summary

The United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea in Tokyo on Monday. Allison Hooker and Hiroyuki Namazu made the commitment during the second U.S.-Japan Free and Open Indo-Pacific Dialogue. They also discussed resolving the abductions issue, defense industrial cooperation, regional security, and economic security. The talks came amid speculation about renewed dialogue between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

Key Facts

The dialogue was held in Tokyo and involved U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Namazu.
The two countries welcomed Japan’s growing cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Discussions covered critical minerals supply chains, energy security, and maritime security cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The commitment referred to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 13, 2026 8:29 am KST

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker attends the S. Korea-U.S. Strategic Dialogue held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, Seoul, Oct. 10, 2025. Hankookilbo

The United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea during high-level talks in Tokyo on Monday, the U.S. State Department said.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Namazu made the commitment during the countries' second U.S.-Japan Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Dialogue held in Tokyo, according to a department press release.

"They noted progress in U.S.-Japan defense industrial cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the DPRK and the immediate resolution of the abductions issue," the department said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, raising speculation over the possibility of renewed diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.

The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation with regional allies and partners on security issues, while welcoming Japan's growing cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The dialogue also covered economic security, critical minerals supply chains, energy security and maritime security cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, according to the department.

Explore More