South Korea's top envoy to the United States vowed Thursday to ensure that Seoul and Washington maintain the goal of North Korea's denuclearization, after U.S. President Donald Trump described Pyongyang as a "nuclear power" earlier this week.

Trump's words raise expectations about the revival of direct diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang that has been dormant during the Biden Administration. North Korean state media took 48 hours to inform the North Korean people that Donald Trump had been inaugurated as President of the United States on Monday.

In the second part of a Fox News interview, the US president said tariffs were their "one very big power" over China.

The attack came as South Korea’s military said North Korea is preparing to send more troops to join Russia’s fight against Ukraine, despite Pyongyang suffering a high rate of losses among its existing deployment of 11,000 and seeing some of its soldiers captured.

The family of Megumi Yokota, who was 13 when she was abducted by North Korean agents in 1977, met the US president previously in Tokyo.

North Korea is likely preparing to send additional troops to Russia after suffering heavy losses in battles against Ukrainian forces, South Korea's military said Friday.

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Under Donald Trump, Washington expected to discuss ‘small deal’ on Pyongyang's nuclear program, says South Korean spy agency - Anadolu Ajansı

North Korea defended its right to maintain a nuclear weapons program at a United Nations disarmament conference held shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the North as a "nuclear power.

It follows threats by Trump to levy import taxes of 25% on Mexico and Canada, accusing them of allowing undocumented migrants and drugs into the US.

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's defence ministry said on Tuesday the denuclearisation of North Korea must continue to be the goal necessary for lasting global peace, after reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had called Pyongyang "a nuclear power."

The grouping of four U.S. foes, which Biden's ambassador to China recently called an "unholy alliance," adds up to a loss of leverage for the U.S. and its partners, say analysts.