North Korea presses Washington to rethink its denuclearization policy

North Korea is pressuring the United States to abandon its policy of completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and accept Pyongyang as a nuclear-weapon state. U.S. officials have reaffirmed that the policy remains unchanged, while North Korean officials have vowed to respond to what they call Washington’s hostile policy with stronger measures.

The dispute could shape any future talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea is unlikely to accept dialogue focused only on arms reductions or a freeze, and may portray negotiations as implicit recognition of its nuclear status. South Korean officials have promoted a phased approach beginning with renewed dialogue, an arms freeze and arms control.

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