Seoul: South Korea reaffirmed Thursday that denuclearizing North Korea is a "unanimous goal" shared by the international community, following remarks by Marco Rubio, the nominee for U.S. Secretary of State, suggesting a review of Washington's policy on Pyongyang.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rubio, during a confirmation hearing before the Senate, highlighted the need for a "serious" review of North Korea policy. He emphasized exploring strategies to reduce the risk of "inadvertent" conflict between the two Koreas and stressed the importance of preventing a crisis without encouraging nuclear proliferation among other nations.

In response to Rubio's comments, the foreign ministry in Seoul reiterated that North Korea's denuclearization is an "essential condition" for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. A ministry official stated, "It is a unanimously shared goal of the international community." The official acknowledged that despite previous efforts, North Korea has persisted in its nuclear development, indicating that Rubio's remarks suggest the necessity of a wider approach to the policy on North Korea.

The official further noted that the incoming Trump administration has not yet detailed its policy on Pyongyang. "We intend to maintain close communication with the U.S. during its policy review process to ensure a coordinated response to North Korea's nuclear and other issues," the official added.