White House: "North Korean Nuclear Threat is Serious"... Consultations with Allies on New Strategy

NSC Advisor Talks with Japan on Cooperation Regarding North Korea

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki briefing [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House has expressed its intention to present a 'new strategy' for North Korea's denuclearization for the first time since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said this on the 22nd (local time) during a briefing in response to questions about the new administration's North Korea policy.

Psaki explained, "President Biden undoubtedly views North Korea's nuclear ballistic missiles and other proliferation-related activities as a serious threat to global peace and security, and as undermining the global non-proliferation regime."

She said, "We are clearly still very focused on deterring North Korea," and added, "We will adopt a new strategy to keep the American people and our allies safe."

She also announced that for the new strategy, the administration will begin a thorough policy review of the current North Korean situation in close consultation with South Korea, Japan, and other allies.

Psaki reiterated, "As the United States has historically done, we will work closely with partners in the region to determine the way forward and cooperate on deterrence."

The White House's mention of a new strategy is interpreted as a sign that, unlike the previous Donald Trump administration which failed to achieve results through North Korea-U.S. summits, the Biden administration will handle the North Korea issue based on consultations with allies and focus on practical negotiations.

Meanwhile, Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, spoke on the phone with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Kitamura, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, on the same day.

Ailey Hawn, spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC), stated in a press release that during the call, Sullivan emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance and expressed expectations for cooperation in addressing key regional and international challenges, including COVID-19, China, and North Korea.

The Japanese side conveyed that both countries agreed to cooperate on the issue of North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens and that the two agreed on close cooperation among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea regarding the North Korean situation.

Sullivan also spoke on the phone with counterparts from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan on the same day.