S.Korea, US agree to denuclearise Pyongyang

Seoul, May 16 (IANS) South Korea and the US on Tuesday agreed to work towards the "complete" denuclearisation of North Korea, also vowing to seek new and practical ways to rid Pyongyang of its nuclear weapons, Seoul officials said.

The agreement came at a meeting between South Korean officials and US National Security Council (NSC) officials, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"The US reaffirmed its strong commitment to the security and defence of South Korea," Yoon Young-chan, the top press secretary of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, told the media.

The sides agreed to exert joint efforts for a "complete" disposal of North Korea's nuclear weapons, he added.

"First, they agreed that their ultimate goal was the complete disposal of North Korean nuclear weapons. Second, they agreed to mobilise all available means, including sanctions and dialogue," Yoon said.

The sides said dialogue with the communist North was possible under the right conditions, Yoon said.

North Korea launched what is believed to be an intermediate-range missile on Sunday, prompting fresh condemnation from both Seoul and Washington, as well as the UN Security Council.

Tuesday's meeting also sought to arrange schedules for a summit between Moon and his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Yoon said the sides have agreed to hold the summit in Washington in late June.