South Korea and the US are aligned on North Korea policy. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told a parliamentary audit on October 6 that both sides back a phased strategy to halt and dismantle the North’s nuclear programme.

Cho said the two allies share a commitment to denuclearisation. The remarks address concerns in Seoul that Washington might shift to arms-control-only goals. Those worries rose after US leadership dodged a denuclearisation question in August. The US later reaffirmed its goal of complete denuclearisation.

Cho also said he is watching the US midterm elections for policy signals. Other issues raised included a DMZ landmine explosion and clashes between ministers over cyber sanctions.

The alignment message aims to calm nerves in Seoul. North Korea’s nuclear advances remain the region’s top security worry, and allied unity is seen as key to pressure. Analysts say allied messaging matters as Pyongyang advances its arsenal. A united front, they argue, keeps diplomatic pressure credible and deters further provocations in the region.