In brief
Foreign ministers from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Atlanta to reaffirm their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, stressing enforcement of UN sanctions and a robust deterrence posture. The meeting also produced a memorandum establishing a Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership, a claim reported only by Yonhap.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Atlanta on Oct. 30 2026 to reaffirm their resolve to fully denuclearize North Korea, Yonhap reported.
The ministers emphasized the full implementation of all U.N. Security Council resolutions and the enforcement of sanctions that prohibit revenue‑generating activities for Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.
They stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, warning that actions by China, Russia and China‑linked entities in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Yellow Sea threaten Indo‑Pacific peace.
In a joint statement, the trio pledged to continue diplomatic efforts, noting that the meeting would keep the global community informed of progress and keep pressure on North Korea to comply.
The ministers also committed to a strong deterrence posture while pursuing dialogue and diplomacy for a lasting peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
Additionally, the discussion produced a signed memorandum of cooperation, establishing a Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership (TAPP) to explore maritime and economic collaboration in the Pacific‑Arctic region.
This memorandum of cooperation, described only in a Yonhap report, is the first record that the three countries are pursuing joint strategic initiatives beyond the Korean Peninsula.
Marco Rubio stated:
“The Secretary and Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.”
