New delhi: The top diplomats of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India reaffirmed their commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea during their talks in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to a joint statement. This declaration comes amid heightened tensions following Pyongyang's recent missile and artillery launches.
According to Yonhap News Agency, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar convened for their Quad ministerial meeting in the Indian capital. The diplomats emphasized their dedication to North Korea's denuclearization in line with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and called for North Korea to adhere to its obligations under these resolutions.
The diplomats also condemned North Korea's development of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. Their statement followed Pyongyang's firing of multiple close-range ballistic missiles and artillery rockets toward the Yellow Sea, underscoring its continued efforts to enhance its weapons programs. The diplomats expressed concern over North Korea's cyber activities and IT worker activities, which they claim finance Pyongyang's weapons programs.
The diplomats stressed the importance of addressing violations of North Korea-related U.N. Security Council resolutions and urged all U.N. member states to fulfill their international obligations to implement sanctions. They also voiced concern over countries deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which they believe undermines the global non-proliferation regime.
In their meeting, the Quad ministers launched the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Corporation Initiative to improve information sharing through enhanced surveillance capabilities. Additionally, they expanded the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative to provide real-time maritime data to countries throughout the region. This move aims to address disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial sea lane for global trade.
Rubio highlighted the significance of maritime security, noting that 60 percent of global maritime trade passes through the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized that maintaining maritime security is a vital national interest for not only the four countries represented at the meeting but also for many other countries worldwide.