Page 28 - 2018 Defense White Paper

nuclear test site in presence of invited international journalists on May 24.

On June 12, 2018, the first-ever U.S.–DPRK Summit took place, and North Korea agreed to
build new relations with the United States, fully denuclearize, and repatriate the remains of U.S.
soldiers killed in the Korean War. On July 27, Pyongyang returned the remains of U.S. soldiers

and dismantled part of the Dongchang-ri missile engine test site. Follow-up negotiations are
underway with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visiting North Korea over several occasions.
North Korea’s relationship with Japan has seen no concrete progress despite the bilateral

Stockholm Agreement 17) signed in May 2015. Since the situation on the Korean Peninsula
shifted to an atmosphere for dialogue in 2018, Japan has been seeking diplomatic efforts to
resume dialogue with Pyongyang, including the issue of Japanese abductees, and has hinted

the possibility of holding a Japan–DPRK summit. In response, North Korea has demanded
for settlement of unresolved issues from the Japanese colonial era and for a break from Japan’s
pressure policy against North Korea. As a result, dialogue between North Korea and Japan is
yet to gain any drive.

North Korea’s relations with China have f luctuated due to North Korea’s nuclear development
program. Bilateral relations were strained after China joined international sanctions against

North Korea in 2016, but in 2018, both countries began making efforts to restore relations.
North Korea attempted to restore friendly relations with China through three summits, the first
of which took place in March. North Korea has also been garnering China’s diplomatic support
in the denuclearization phase through active exchanges between senior officials, and has been

making efforts to expand bilateral economic cooperation, including a North Korean economic
delegation visit to China.
North Korea has maintained an amicable relationship with Russia since the two countries

strengthened economic cooperation through the 2011 Russia–DPRK summit. As a permanent
member of the UN Security Council, Russia participated in international sanctions against
North Korea, including the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions. However,

Russia has been increasing exchanges with North Korea since 2018, in celebration of the 70 th
anniversary of Russia–DPRK diplomatic ties. North Korea has been managing its friendly ties

17) During the director-level talks between the two countries’ foreign ministries held in Stockholm, Sweden, on May
26, 2014, North Korea agreed to launch a new inquiry into Japanese abductees and other Japanese nationals
who are residing in its territory in exchange for the partial easing of sanctions imposed by Japan.

26 Chapter 1 Changes and Challenges in the Security Environment