Seoul: A U.S. diplomat said Thursday that North Korea's denuclearization is "very high up" on the Trump administration's policy priority list, as Pyongyang continues to resist international calls for it to forgo nuclear weapons, calling them its "core interests."
According to Yonhap News Agency, David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, made the remarks during a forum amid questions over whether North Korea would be willing to pivot toward denuclearization given that it seeks to accelerate its nuclear buildup at an "exponential rate" and insists that its nuclear status is "irreversible."
The diplomat also noted that for now, Washington will rely "very heavily" on the U.S. military's opinion about the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea, as the administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pushes to retake it before its term ends in 2030.
Wilezol emphasized the importance of North Korea's denuclearization, stating that it remains a key discussion point within the current U.S. administration. He highlighted that during a recent summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, a stance also supported by the Group of Seven (G7) countries during their summit in France.
Hours earlier, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized the G7 leaders' statement reaffirming their commitment to the North's denuclearization, saying that denuclearization is a "line of no retreat that can never be crossed."
The U.S. diplomat reiterated Washington's openness to reengaging with North Korea, expressing readiness for discussions if Chairman Kim is willing. However, he stressed that the U.S. will maintain "peace through strength" by enforcing sanctions and collaborating with other countries to address North Korea's cyber threats and cryptocurrency thefts.
On the OPCON transfer issue, Wilezol agreed with Robert O'Brien, national security advisor during the first Trump administration, on the need for a "thoughtful and careful" transition to prevent exploitation by adversaries. He expressed confidence in achieving a final agreement on the transfer, emphasizing reliance on military expertise for operational realities.
His comment came as Seoul aims to retake wartime OPCON before 2028, with U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson indicating a target of meeting conditions by the first quarter of 2029. South Korea handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the 1950-53 Korean War, later transferring it to the allies' Combined Forces Command in 1978. Seoul regained peacetime OPCON in 1994, but wartime OPCON remains under U.S. control.
Wilezol also addressed the business environment for U.S. firms in South Korea, acknowledging areas for improvement but affirming the strong bilateral relationship. He alluded to the scrutiny faced by e-commerce giant Coupang Inc after a significant data leak, emphasizing the strength and trust underpinning the Seoul-Washington relationship.
He concluded by underscoring the resilience of the relationship despite occasional challenges, noting that allies work through disagreements rather than resorting to drastic measures.