Ministry of Foreign Affairs "will communicate in the process of reviewing U.S. New Administration's North Korea policy"

In response to U.S. Secretary of State candidate Marco Rubio's remarks that "sanctions have failed to prevent North Korea's nuclear development," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that denuclearization of North Korea is a prerequisite for peaceful prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and a concerted goal of the international community.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that despite various efforts, North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and the North Korean issue has global implications beyond the Korean Peninsula.

As Rubio noted that the new U.S. administration's North Korea policy is not ready yet, he added that he wants to continue close communication and cooperation in the U.S. policy review process so that a coordinated response to the North Korean nuclear issue can be made.

Earlier, candidate Rubio said at a confirmation hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that nuclear weapons meant a lot to Kim Jong-un and did not prevent him from developing any sanctions, and that North Korea policy should be taken seriously more broadly.