US official says 'no change' in US policy toward N. Korea

WASHINGTON — A U.S. official affirmed on Wednesday that there has been no alteration in U.S. policy towards North Korea, amid rising apprehensions about President Donald Trump's administration's dedication to achieving North Korea's denuclearization. The official's statement came in response to Yonhap News Agency's query concerning the Trump administration's ongoing commitment to the "complete denuclearization of the North," a stance the administration has consistently maintained.

Last week, Trump refrained from responding to a reporter's question regarding whether his objective in reengaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is denuclearization, sparking concerns that Washington might pivot its policy focus toward objectives less stringent than denuclearization, such as arms control and tension alleviation.

The official conveyed to Yonhap News Agency via email, "There has been no change in U.S. policy." With Trump aiming for a meeting with the North Korean leader later in the week, questions have surfaced regarding whether he would lower the bar for diplomacy with Pyongyang at a time when the obstinate regime has steadfastly asserted the irreversibility of its nuclear status.