▲ The presidential office in Seoul is seen in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

presidential office-N Korea

Presidential office reaffirms N.K.'s denuclearization as int'l community's 'consistent goal'

SEOUL, June 14 (Yonhap) -- The presidential office said Sunday that North Korea's denuclearization remains a "consistent goal of the international community" after Pyongyang criticized Seoul and Washington for reaffirming their shared goal during recent high-level talks.

A senior presidential official reiterated the government's position in response to remarks by North Korea's foreign ministry, which described denuclearization as an "irreversibly finalized" matter after South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their shared goal during the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group meeting in Seoul on Thursday.

"Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a consistent goal of the international community, as reaffirmed through multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," the official said.

The official said cooperation between the allies on extended deterrence is part of the government's responsibility to protect its citizens and is fully consistent with the international nonproliferation regime and norms, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Extended deterrence refers to a U.S. pledge to use its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear capabilities, to defend its ally.

"The government is working to realize a Korean Peninsula free of war and nuclear weapons under the vision of peaceful coexistence and shared growth," the official added.

North Korea's state media stressed Pyongyang "irreversible position" as a "nuclear weapons state," describing efforts by the U.S. and its allies to pursue its denuclearization as "an unreasonable talk and fantastic daydream."

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