U.S. Special Representative for the DPRK Ambassador Sung Kim hosted Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn and Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki for bilateral and trilateral meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, on October 17, to discuss trilateral cooperation to curb the threat posed by the DPRK.
The three senior officials shared assessments of recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK’s engagement with Russia. They discussed arms transfers between the DPRK and Russia which violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, threaten stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and around the world, and undermine the global non-proliferation regime. They also highlighted the threat that the DPRK’s unlawful ballistic missile and WMD programs, as well as its malicious cyber activities, pose to global peace and prosperity. The three senior officials noted their concerns about reports of forced repatriations of North Koreans from the PRC. Special Representative Kim reiterated that the United States is open to diplomatic engagement with DPRK without preconditions. The officials committed to maintain close coordination regarding the DPRK’s plans to launch a military reconnaissance satellite using ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.