In brief
On Friday, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan met on the sidelines of the G20 in Atlanta to reiterate their resolve to completely denuclearize North Korea. They emphasized enforcing UN sanctions, celebrated the work of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, and signed a memorandum establishing the Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership. The ministers underscored the importance of regional stability across the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo‑Pacific.
On Friday, October 30, 2026, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Atlanta to reaffirm their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
The U.S. State Department said the three ministers, who met at a G20 side event, stressed the need for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and the enforcement of UN sanctions that curb revenue for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
U.S. State Department
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and the full implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
In addition to their pledge, the ministers signed a memorandum of cooperation to establish a Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership, a newly named initiative aimed at exploring maritime and economic collaboration in the Pacific Arctic.
They also cited the work of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team in exposing North Korea’s sanctions violations and evasion, and highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo‑Pacific region.
The meeting reinforced the ongoing trilateral cooperation and underscored the need for continued diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang to comply with international obligations.
