READOUT
OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON
FEBRUARY 1, 2022
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
On January 29 and 30, Special Representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sung Kim held calls with Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Funakoshi Takehiro and ROK Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-duk.
In the calls, Special Representative Kim discussed with Director General Funakoshi and Special Representative Noh the DPRK’s January 29 ballistic missile launch. Special Representative Kim condemned the DPRK’s ballistic missile launches as violations of UN Security Council resolutions and destabilizing to the region. Special Representative Kim also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and our ironclad commitment to the defense of the ROK and Japan.
Special Representative Kim underscored the United States’ continued readiness to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy with the DPRK in order to make tangible progress and reiterated our commitment to continued close coordination with our ROK and Japanese allies.