S. Korea, U.S., partners reaffirm N. Korea denuclearization goal, back sanctions enforcement

South Korea, the United States and allied nations reaffirmed their dedication to the denuclearization of North Korea on Wednesday. This commitment was underscored by recent sanctions imposed on Pyongyang's overseas workers, cyber activities, and military cooperation with Russia. An 11-country statement, including the European Union, welcomed these sanctions, which were enacted by the United States, Australia, and the European Union in October to hinder North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities.

The joint statement was issued by a coalition of countries, comprising South Korea, the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Britain, and the European Union. The participants highlighted findings from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), an entity established following the disbanding of a U.N. expert panel in April 2024 due to Russia's veto on extending its mandate to monitor sanctions compliance.