First call between the US and Japan… "Confirmation of the need for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula"

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US President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Suga spoke on the phone.

The White House announced that the two leaders have confirmed the need for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the currency.

Correspondent Kim Soo-hyung reports from Washington.

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At the dawn of today (28th), US President Biden spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Suga for the first time since taking office for 30 minutes.

The White House released a press release and announced that the two countries have reaffirmed the need for complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders discussed the US-Japan alliance and said they have confirmed the importance of the bilateral alliance as a cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the free and open India and the Pacific.

He also added that the US has discussed the promise of unwavering Japan defense under Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty, including the Senkaku Islands.

U.S. Ambassador-nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Senate hearing that we need to cooperate with China and Russia as well as allies, including South Korea and Japan, on the North Korean nuclear issue.

[Thomas-Greenfield/UN US Ambassador-nominee: (cooperation with neighboring countries) is really important in putting pressure on sanctions against the North Korean regime.]

Thomas-Greenfield said one of the biggest causes of Trump administration's failure was to work alone. He said he was trying to do it, and criticized his allies were pushed aside in the process.

After taking his oath, Secretary of State Blincoln also said he would come to the State Department for the first time to restore alliances and show that the United States can lead international affairs.