Trilateral US-ROK-Japan North Korea Nuclear Representatives "Strongly Condemn" North Korea's Constitutionalization of Nuclear Forces

The senior representatives for North Korea's nuclear issues from South Korea, the United States, and Japan strongly condemned North Korea's policy of constitutionalizing its nuclear forces on the 28th.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kim Gun, Head of the South Korea Peace Negotiation Headquarters, Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, and Namazu Hiroyuki, Japan's Senior Representative for North Korea's Nuclear Issues, held a trilateral teleconference in the afternoon to discuss the results of the Supreme People's Assembly and the return of Private Travis King of the U.S. Forces Korea.

The three senior representatives strongly condemned North Korea's adoption of a constitutional amendment at the Supreme People's Assembly that explicitly states its nuclear forces policy. Earlier, North Korea held the Supreme People's Assembly on the 26th and 27th and announced its intention to enshrine the nuclear forces policy in the constitution. Following the adoption of the nuclear forces policy as a law last September, it has now been explicitly included in the nation's highest law, the constitution.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, attending the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea on the 26th-27th [Photo by Yonhap News]

Regarding this, the three representatives stated, "We express deep regret that North Korea, indifferent to the collapsed livelihood of its people, declares its intention to strengthen its nuclear forces and repeatedly threatens and provokes with preemptive nuclear attacks, while shamelessly shifting responsibility onto South Korea, the United States, and Japan."

Additionally, the three representatives strongly urged North Korea to immediately cease its threats and provocations and return to the path of denuclearization. They agreed to closely cooperate with the international community to strengthen a comprehensive (3D) approach of deterrence, abandonment, and diplomacy to create an environment in which North Korea has no choice but to denuclearize.

They also agreed to closely monitor and strengthen cooperation regarding the possibility of further provocations by North Korea, including the anticipated re-launch of the so-called 'reconnaissance satellite' next month, as well as trends in high-level North Korea-Russia exchanges and arms transactions. They also expressed their welcome for the safe return of Private King, who had illegally crossed into North Korea in July and was handed over to the U.S. side by North Korean decision.