On October 26, the White House responded cautiously to President Donald Trump’s comments recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power. A spokesperson stated that Trump’s remarks appeared to acknowledge the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
The official emphasized that the U.S. and South Korea continue to work closely together towards their shared goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
According to AFP and other news outlets, while aboard Air Force One the previous day, President Trump responded to a question about potentially recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state to facilitate negotiations. He stated that North Korea are, in effect, a nuclear power.
Trump added that when the topic of recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state comes up, he would say, They possess a significant nuclear arsenal.
Previously, President Lee Jae Myung had proposed the E·N·D Initiative for the Korean Peninsula, outlining a three-phase denuclearization process comprising a nuclear freeze, reduction, and elimination.
National Security Advisor Wi Sung-Iac elaborated on the E·N·D Initiative, acknowledging North Korea’s current nuclear capabilities while emphasizing that recognizing its status as a nuclear power is a separate issue. He also reaffirmed opposition to the two-state theory, citing constitutional grounds.
However, controversy erupted within the government when Unification Minister Chung Dong-young appeared to recognize North Korea as a de facto nuclear power and advocated for the two-state theory. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun swiftly dismissed these comments as personal opinions, attempting to mitigate the situation.
