Trump's Silence on Denuclearization Draws Scrutiny; U.S. Government Says There Is No Change in North Korea Policy

[Financial News] As U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks that appeared to treat North Korea's nuclear arsenal as a fait accompli, raising questions about a possible shift in North Korea policy, the U.S. administration moved to calm the situation by saying, "There has been no change in policy." The reaction came as Trump showed a willingness to resume dialogue with Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, while remaining guarded on denuclearization. That fueled speculation that the United States could enter negotiations while effectively accepting North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.
On the 26th, local time, the State Department said, in response to a question about whether the United States still aims for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, "The United States remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea."
Another U.S. official also stressed, "There has been no change in U.S. policy." The administration was drawing a clear line in response to the possibility of a policy shift raised by Trump's repeated remarks.
The latest position has drawn attention as Trump has recently sent a series of signals on North Korea that differ from his previous approach. He ordered a major reduction in Ulchi Freedom Shield, the annual South Korea–United States joint military exercise, and publicly said he intended to meet Kim Jong Un this year. The move was interpreted as an effort to seek a breakthrough through direct summit diplomacy rather than pressure on North Korea.
The controversy deepened especially after Trump specifically referred to North Korea's nuclear stockpile on the 19th. He said North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons. When later asked whether his goal in rebuilding ties with Kim Jong Un was still denuclearization, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "I don't want to talk about that."
Because the U.S. government has long maintained North Korea's "complete denuclearization" as its official policy goal, Trump's silence has led to interpretations that the way Washington handles the North Korean nuclear issue could change. Some say the administration may move toward a more pragmatic approach, one that acknowledges North Korea's nuclear weapons and prioritizes talks on a freeze or arms reduction first.
As Trump accelerates efforts to revive summit diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, how denuclearization is handled at the negotiating table remains an open question. Even if denuclearization stays the final goal, the two sides could still discuss phased steps such as a nuclear freeze or reductions in nuclear weapons at the early stage of talks.
The Government of the Republic of Korea is also watching for any possible change in U.S. North Korea policy and stressed that there is no difference between Seoul and Washington on the denuclearization principle. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Park Doo-sun said at a briefing on the 25th, "As stated in the joint fact sheet from last November's South Korea–United States summit, both countries have consistently upheld the goals of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter