Washington: The State Department reiterated on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearizing North Korea during their summit in Beijing last month. This announcement followed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Xi's talks in Pyongyang, which took place hours before the statement. According to Yonhap News Agency, after Xi arrived in North Korea on Monday, he held a summit with Kim Jong-un. During the meeting, Xi emphasized the need for the two countries to strengthen political trust and expand practical cooperation. However, it was noted that Xi did not refer to denuclearization or the "Korean Peninsula issue" during their discussions. A spokesperson for the State Department responded to Yonhap News Agency's request for comments on the summit by stating, "In Beijing, President Trump and President Xi confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea." This statement was also issued by the department last week ahead of Xi's vis it to North Korea, highlighting the Trump administration's expectations for China's role in bringing North Korea back to dialogue and encouraging a shift toward denuclearization. Despite these ongoing diplomatic efforts, Pyongyang has remained firm in its rejection of any calls for denuclearization. Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of the North Korean leader, recently described North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed country as "irreversible," calling it a "line of no retreat." There has been speculation that President Trump might have sought Xi's cooperation in resuming dialogue with Kim Jong-un during last month's summit in Beijing. Trump has expressed a consistent desire to re-engage with the reclusive North Korean leader. The recent summit between Xi and Kim also comes at a time when the Chinese leader is seeking to enhance relations with North Korea. This move is observed as North Korea continues to deepen its military, diplomatic, and economic cooperation with Russia.
