U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference with Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba at the White House, Washington, Friday (local time). EPA-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed the principle of "complete denuclearization of North Korea," outlining his administration's policy for the Korean Peninsula, Friday. This is the first time since his inauguration on Jan. 20 that the phrase "complete denuclearization of North Korea" has been explicitly included in an official U.S. diplomatic document.

During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the two leaders agreed on the principle of North Korea's complete denuclearization and formally included it in their official diplomatic document. They also plan to leverage the trilateral cooperation framework between the U.S., South Korea and Japan during negotiations with North Korea.

Friday's confirmation alleviated concerns about a potential shift in the Trump administration's approach to the Korean Peninsula, which had surfaced after he referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" on his first day in office. This comment sparked debate over whether his strategy would prioritize nuclear arms control or focus on addressing direct threats to the U.S., such as intercontinental ballistic missiles. Such a shift would have marked a departure from the denuclearization principles emphasized during Trump's first term, but Friday's statement helped mitigate those concerns.

During his first term, Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times — once in Singapore in 2018, again in Vietnam in 2019 and at the inter-Korean Demilitarized Zone in 2019.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border village of Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone in this June 30, 2019 photo. AP-Yonhap

On Saturday, the South Korean government expressed its support for the reaffirmation of the U.S. and Japan's commitment to North Korea's denuclearization, made through their bilateral summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the positions on the Korean Peninsula expressed by the U.S. and Japan during the summit "align with the direction of our North Korea policy, which we have consistently communicated to the U.S. and Japan through various channels at all levels."

Kim also responded to Trump's remarks on Sunday during his address celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean military.

In his speech, Kim devoted a significant portion to criticizing the U.S. for exacerbating geopolitical crises worldwide, increasing the risk of a new world war. He also referenced U.S.-led nuclear war simulations, accusing the U.S. of creating a new confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.

However, Kim did not specifically target the Trump administration. He refrained from revealing any concrete plans for nuclear weapons development and did not directly criticize Trump or South Korea. On the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Kim stated, "The military and the people will continue to support the Russian Army without change," suggesting potential additional support.

This comment is seen as Kim avoiding provocations that could directly target U.S. territory or provoke Trump while leaving room for future negotiations with the U.S. in mind.