S. Korea, Malaysia agree to continue efforts for complete denuclearization of N. Korea

They expressed concern over the negative impact of North Korea's troop dispatch to the Ukraine war on the security on the Korean Peninsula and the region,

the ministry said, noting the Malaysian side expressed support for Seoul's condemnation of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs

President Trump is talking with the two leaders at the center of this war. An initial ceasefire for a month covering critical infrastructure represents progress -- they have cleared one hurdle,

Patrick Cronin, chair for Asia-Pacific Security at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, told Yonhap News Agency via email

In fact, with President Putin prior to an election result (in 2020), we were talking about denuclearization of our two countries and China would have come along,

he said during his virtual participation in the World Economic Forum in late January

Victor Chaamerican presidential advisor

I don't think Trump is focused on denuclearization anymore ... He is a very pragmatic person,

Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said during a public event last week

There's no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many,

he told reporters

But there are many more difficult hurdles ahead. The resumption of war in Gaza is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of many ceasefires. But I applaud attempts that aim for peace and diplomatic dividends, even if I also caution about making phone peace deals that send the wrong signals to potential aggressors in Asia,

he added

I can tell you that President Putin wanted to do it. He and I wanted to do it,

he said

I have a great relationship with Kim Jong Un, and we'll see what happens, but certainly he's a nuclear power,

Trump told reporters Thursday

The DPRK will steadily update and strengthen its nuclear-armed forces both in quality and quantity in response to the nuclear threat from outside,

the DPRK added

We demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons and any other weapons of mass destruction as well as ballistic missile programs in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,

read a joint statement released by the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

The DPRK's nuclear-armed forces will exist forever as a powerful means of justice which defends the sovereignty of the state, territorial integrity and fundamental interests, prevents a war in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia and guarantees a strategic stability of the world,

officials from North Korea said in a statement to the state-run Korean Central News Agency