On Tuesday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun clarified that President Donald Trump’s recent remarks did not amount to an official recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power, despite some interpretations suggesting otherwise.
During a comprehensive audit of the Foreign Ministry at the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Minister Cho responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Seon-woo, explaining that a nuclear power is defined as a country recognized as possessing nuclear weapons under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). President Trump’s statement can be interpreted as acknowledging that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons rather than officially recognizing it as a nuclear state.
On October 24, while departing for Malaysia on his Asian tour, President Trump referred to North Korea as a sort of nuclear power. This remark sparked speculation that he had confirmed North Korea’s aspiration to be a nuclear power. He further added that he would say they have a lot of nuclear weapons.
When asked whether Trump’s comments about potentially lifting sanctions on North Korea were intended to encourage a U.S.-North Korea summit before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, Minister Cho replied that he believe it could serve as a significant inducement. However, he also noted that compared to 2017-2018, North Korea has deepened its military cooperation with Russia and strengthened its ties with China. In simpler terms, this has increased its leverage in negotiations with the U.S.
Regarding the prospects of a U.S.-North Korea summit, he cautiously stated that while the possibility remains open, he thinks it would be unwise to assign a specific probability to it.
When asked about potential summit locations, including Panmunjom or a third country, Minister Cho responded that while it’s premature for me to specify locations, he can assure you that we are fully prepared to consider all possibilities and will make thorough preparations should a summit occur.
Addressing the implications of President Trump’s recent joint appearances with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for South Korean diplomacy, Minister Cho analyzed that the U.S. is maintaining open channels for dialogue with North Korea while continuing its strategic competition with China. In terms of regional security, it appears that the U.S. is leveraging its alliance with Japan and cooperating with South Korea to address broader Northeast Asian security concerns.