    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [October 26, 2002]
    [Pages 1903-1904]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Statement
    October 26, 2002

        Today President George W. Bush, President Kim Dae-Jung, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful
    Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons.
        The three leaders agreed that North Korea's program to enrich
    uranium for nuclear weapons is a violation of the Agreed Framework, the
    Non-Proliferation Treaty, North Korea's IAEA safeguards agreement, and
    the South-North Joint Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean
    peninsula. The three leaders called upon North Korea to dismantle this
    program in a prompt and

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    verifiable manner and to come into full compliance with all its
    international commitments in conformity with North Korea's recent
    commitment in the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration. In this
    context, the three leaders agreed to continue close coordination.
        The three leaders stressed their commitment to resolve this matter
    peacefully in close consultation trilaterally and with other concerned
    nations around the globe.
        The three leaders agreed that South-North dialogue and the opening
    of Japan-DPRK normalization talks can serve as important channels to
    call upon the North to respond quickly and convincingly to the
    international communities' demands for a denuclearized Korean peninsula.
    President Kim briefed that during the recent
    South-North Ministerial Meeting held in Pyongyang, the South strongly
    urged North Korea to take immediate action for a prompt and peaceful
    resolution of the nuclear issue. Prime Minister Koizumi reiterated that Japan-DPRK normalization should
    promote not only bilateral relations with North Korea, but also
    contribute to peace and stability of the region. In this regard, Prime
    Minister Koizumi stressed that Japan-North Korea normalization talks
    would not be concluded without full compliance with the Pyongyang
    Declaration between Japan and North Korea, in particular with regard to
    the security issues, including the nuclear issue, and abduction issues.
    President Bush reiterated his February statement in South Korea that the
    United States has no intention of invading North Korea as well as the
    fact that he had been prepared to pursue a bold approach to transforming
    U.S.-DPRK relations.
        The three leaders noted the potential for North Korea to benefit
    from greater participation as a member of the international community.
    However, the three leaders agreed that North Korea's relations with the
    international community now rest on North Korea's prompt and visible
    actions to dismantle its program to produce highly enriched uranium for
    nuclear weapons.
        With a view to contributing to regional as well as international
    peace and stability, the three leaders reaffirmed that continued close
    consultations and trilateral coordination remain vital to the success of
    their efforts towards North Korea.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.