“Asia is . . . . the world’s most dynamic region. . . .Equally as important, Asia is showing the world what can happen when you look forward,” said Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to Japan.
Yet despite the great strides the countries of the Pacific have made during the first decade of the new millennium, “some of the challenges of the last century have survived into the 21st century,” said Secretary Kerry. “The most immediate among them . . . is North Korea.”
North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and conducting nuclear tests in violation of its United Nations obligations and its own commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. And even as countries of the Pacific Rim increasingly work together to build a more stable, secure and prosperous world, North Korea is threatening its neighbors and destabilizing the region.
The United States, Japan, China, Russia and the Republic of Korea are fully committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
“One thing is certain: we are united. There can be no confusion on this point,” said Secretary Kerry. North Korea’s dangerous nuclear and ballistic missile programs not only threaten North Korea’s neighbors, they will not lead to the security and prosperity it seeks.
“The United States,” he said, “remains open to authentic and credible negotiations on denuclearization, but the onus is on Pyongyang to take meaningful steps to show that it will honor commitments it has already made, and it has to observe laws and the norms of international behavior.”
Yet despite the great strides the countries of the Pacific have made during the first decade of the new millennium, “some of the challenges of the last century have survived into the 21st century,” said Secretary Kerry. “The most immediate among them . . . is North Korea.”
North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons and conducting nuclear tests in violation of its United Nations obligations and its own commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. And even as countries of the Pacific Rim increasingly work together to build a more stable, secure and prosperous world, North Korea is threatening its neighbors and destabilizing the region.
The United States, Japan, China, Russia and the Republic of Korea are fully committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
“One thing is certain: we are united. There can be no confusion on this point,” said Secretary Kerry. North Korea’s dangerous nuclear and ballistic missile programs not only threaten North Korea’s neighbors, they will not lead to the security and prosperity it seeks.
“The United States,” he said, “remains open to authentic and credible negotiations on denuclearization, but the onus is on Pyongyang to take meaningful steps to show that it will honor commitments it has already made, and it has to observe laws and the norms of international behavior.”
