Washington: The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States have reiterated their firm commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This reaffirmation was made during discussions held in Washington, where both sides emphasized the need for the full enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, as confirmed by a State Department spokesperson.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in their first official talks since the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung administration last month. The talks took place amid several cooperation challenges, including preparations for an upcoming summit between South Korean President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The meeting between the two diplomats occurred shortly after President Trump announced a new trade agreement with South Korea, setting the stage for his meeting with President Lee at the White House in two weeks. During the talks, both Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Cho reiterated their unwavering commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, the strict implementation of international sanctions, and shared their serious concerns regarding North Korea's increasing military ties with Russia, as stated by Tammy Bruce, the State Department spokesperson.

The diplomatic unity on addressing North Korean nuclear threats comes in the wake of remarks from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who dismissed the possibility of denuclearization talks. Despite the political tension, she noted that the personal relationship between President Trump and Kim Jong-un remains "not bad."