Speaking to reporters at the White House after signing an executive order aimed at avoiding a “patchwork” of state-level artificial intelligence rules, US President Donald Trump said he has raised the issue of denuclearising weapons with both China and Russia and expressed hope that all nuclear-armed states will work to reduce their arsenals.
Trump told reporters that he has spoken with China and Russia about stopping the spread or development of nuclear weapons and said it would be in the interest of all parties to pursue reductions. He indicated that discussions on denuclearisation are ongoing and framed the effort as mutually desirable.
In October, Trump described denuclearisation as a “tremendous” goal but also said it could be appropriate for the US to resume nuclear testing after more than 30 years. He cited what he termed Russian tests of advanced nuclear-capable systems — including the Poseidon underwater drone — as a major escalation that influenced his view. Trump said the United States, which possesses a large nuclear stockpile but has not recently conducted explosive tests, may consider testing in response and that preparations and test sites are ready, though he did not provide dates or locations.
Separately, the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories reported that the US recently completed a series of important stockpile flight tests for the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb carried by the F-35A. Tests conducted at the Tonopah Test Range in Nevada from August 19–21 involved inert B61-12 units released from the F-35A and confirmed the integrated performance of aircraft, crews, and the weapon under operational conditions.
On the Korean Peninsula, US officials on Monday reiterated that complete denuclearisation of North Korea remains a shared priority with South Korea, after concerns arose when the newly released US National Security Strategy did not explicitly mention North Korea. Acting US Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim said he and South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo were assured the Trump administration continues to prioritise denuclearisation, and that Presidents Trump and South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed that commitment in a joint fact sheet.
The omission of specific references to North Korea in the new NSS prompted questions about whether the issue would receive less emphasis. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the NSS reflects a broader approach that focuses less on individual conflicts and noted Washington has repeatedly reaffirmed its denuclearisation stance in major statements and summit documents, according to Yonhap News Agency.
This report draws on statements and agency reports. The Tribune republishes syndicated content as received and does not assume responsibility for its completeness or accuracy.
