(LEAD) Top nuke envoys of S. Korea, U.S., Japan hold talks on N. Korea in Jakarta
(ATTN: UPDATES with opening remarks from 3rd para)
SEOUL/JAKARTA Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States and Japan had a trilateral meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday amid speculation that North Korea may carry out another nuclear test in line with its continued provocative acts highlighted by the firing of more than 60 ballistic missiles this year.
Seoul's chief nuclear negotiator, Kim Gunn, met with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively, at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. He is also scheduled to have a separate bilateral meeting with Funakoshi later in the day. They had such a trilateral session in Tokyo in September.
"Over the last 30 years, the international community stood firm on our common goal of North Korea's denuclearization. There will not be a single scenario under which we revisit this goal. Not in a million years," Kim said in front of reporters at the start of the meeting.

This file photo shows Kim Gunn (R), South Korea's top nuclear envoy, posing for a photo with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim (L) and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively, at the Japanese foreign ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 7, 2022. (Yonhap)
Kim also stressed China has the capability to influence North Korea.
"Encouraging China to make its best efforts will be another important topic on the table," he added.
The U.S. official said the North's behavior this year has proven again that the country "presents one of the most serious security challenges in the region and beyond."
Funakoshi said the three countries "will respond resolutely should a seventh nuclear test happen."
The European Union, meanwhile, announced new sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and four institutions involved in the secretive Kim Jong-un regime's nuclear and missile development programs.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(LEAD) N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles for nuclear warhead: KCNA
-
U.S. Forces Korea holds first deployment training of THAAD 'remote' launcher
-
BTS' Jimin to release 1st individual album
-
N. Korea says it conducted new underwater nuke weapon test, strategic cruise missile drill: KCNA
-
(LEAD) Yoon vows to make N. Korea pay for reckless provocations
-
Yoon puts S. Korea-Japan relations back on track
-
Japan's removal of export curbs on S. Korea to boost supply chain stability, ease biz uncertainties
-
Yoon's summit with Biden to highlight S. Korea's 'pivotal' role in region: U.S. experts
-
(News Focus) Solution to forced labor issue shows Yoon's commitment to improving ties with Japan
-
Seoul's controversial plan for forced labor compensation reflects urgency of security partnership with Tokyo: experts