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US-Vietnam leaders to cooperate for NK denuclearization

Posted May. 25, 2016 07:37,   

Updated May. 25, 2016 07:42

한국어

The U.S. and Vietnam have agreed to work together to tackle the North Korean nuclear issues.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang had a summit on Monday and adopted the "Fact Sheet on U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Relations," which includes a passage that states, "The U.S. and Vietnam will cooperate for complete implementation of the Resolution 2270 as well as North Korea's denuclearization."

This summit was unprecedented in that Washington directly spoke of sanctions on Pyongyang to a Southeast Asian country with close economic and military ties with North Korea. In February, soon after North Korea's fourth nuclear test, President Obama was going to discuss the North Korean nuclear issues with leaders of ASEAN countries in the Sunnylands, California, but was stopped by China opposing the idea of global sanctions on North Korea.

On Monday, Obama lifted an arms trade embargo on Vietnam in 32 years to prepare for China's sudden movement. On Tuesday, he openly criticized China regarding the territorial disputes over the South China Sea.

"Big nations should not bully smaller ones. Disputes should be resolved peacefully," Obama said in his speech at a convention center in Hanoi. "We’ll continue to offer training and equipment to your Coast Guard to enhance Vietnam’s maritime capabilities."



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