U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru at the White House in Washington, Feb. 7. EPA-Yonhap

Washington's stance on North Korea will remain unchanged during President Donald Trump's second term. Like his predecessors, Trump will not allow the reclusive state to become a nuclear weapons state. This long-standing U.S. position was reaffirmed during a recent U.S.-Japan summit held in the U.S. capital. What a relief!

Before Trump's summit on Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, concerns were growing in South Korea about a potential policy shift from the U.S. On Jan. 20, his first day in office, Trump referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a nuclear power while signing a series of executive orders. His rhetoric sparked speculation, with some interpreting it as a sign that the U.S. might recognize North Korea as a de facto nuclear weapons state.

However, these concerns proved to be exaggerated.

Once again, Trump made it clear that he intends to engage with North Korea, even highlighting his relationship with Kim. "We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong-un. I get along with them very well," he told reporters after his summit with Ishiba. "We have a good relationship, and I think it's a very big asset for everybody that I do get along with them."

Yet, Trump stopped short of saying that he and his Japanese counterpart had agreed on the complete dismantling of North Korea's nuclear program. Instead, it was Ishiba who addressed the sensitive issue. "Japan and the U.S. will work toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea," he said.

Does the fact that it was the Japanese leader, not Trump, who suggested a nuclear-free North Korea as a shared goal hint that Trump was unwilling to commit or disagreed on the issue? The answer is no. A high-level U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified that there has been no change in the U.S. government's stance on North Korea. "The Trump administration, just as in the first term, is committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea," the official told Voice of America.

Trump's silence on North Korea's nuclear program appears to be a strategic move aimed at making another summit with the North Korean leader possible, rather than an indication of reluctance or disagreement. He may have intentionally maintained an ambiguous position on the issue, knowing that denuclearization is a sensitive topic for Kim and his regime. Kim would likely be unwilling to consider another summit if the issue of nuclear disarmament were on the agenda.

Pyongyang has been clear about its stance, stating that it has no intention of making any concessions regarding its nuclear weapons. On Saturday, the North's Korean Central News Agency issued a statement declaring that the North's nuclear program is "not a bargaining chip." The statement was a response to calls from NATO and the European Union for the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program.

Seoul, as a key stakeholder in North Korea's nuclear program, is grappling with the challenge of restoring its communication channels with Washington to ensure it can exert proper influence and make its voice heard in the decision-making process of the newly inaugurated Trump administration. This task has become more difficult due to the current leadership vacuum in South Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol has been stripped of his presidential powers, and his impeachment trial is underway. His deputy, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, was also suspended from his duties following the National Assembly's passage of an impeachment motion. While Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok currently serves as the top decision-maker, the leadership void has left Seoul vulnerable in negotiations with Washington at this critical juncture.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul attempted to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the Munich Security Conference, scheduled for Feb. 14-16. However, the two sides were unable to set a date due to Rubio's busy schedule. The foreign ministry continues to explore the possibility of arranging a meeting on the sidelines of the conference, but no news has broken so far about a Cho-Rubio meeting.

Amid this frustration, National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik recently held a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, Mike Waltz. According to the presidential office, the two officials agreed to meet at the earliest possible date after discussing issues related to North Korea, the Korean Peninsula and global affairs. Shin is reportedly planning to travel to Washington sometime this month to meet Waltz in person.

The potential meeting between the national security advisers of both countries presents a valuable opportunity. Seoul should leverage this Shin-Waltz meeting as a high-level platform for direct communication on key issues of mutual interest, especially during this period of leadership vacuum.