U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby stated at a seminar held by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in Washington that the U.S. adequately recognizes the issue of North Korea's nuclear arsenal. Responding to a question regarding why the U.S. does not frequently mention North Korea, which possesses over sixty nuclear weapons, Colby emphasized that the U.S. is aware of the issue and that it is a fundamental reason for maintaining a close alliance with South Korea. Additionally, he referred to the South Korean government's defense spending, which has seen an increase to 3.5% of its GDP as part of a new global standard, underscoring the importance of South Korea taking on the main responsibility for conventional defense on the Korean Peninsula.

Colby also highlighted the concept of maintaining a strong deterrent while being open to dialogue and engagement in U.S. policy towards North Korea, reaffirming the principle of North Korean denuclearization while leaving the door open for unconditional talks. He mentioned that the U.S. is willing to engage in dialogue not only with North Korea but also with other stakeholders like China and Russia. This approach echoes previous statements from the Biden administration that emphasize engagement as part of a broader strategy for dealing with North Korea.

In a related context, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also addressed critiques from North Korea and China regarding U.S. military operations in Iran, stating that the U.S. would address Iran's nuclear ambitions and convey sufficient signals to other nations in the process. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that there would be no changes in the U.S. position regarding North Korea despite the Iranian airstrikes, indicating consistency in U.S. foreign policy amidst ongoing regional tensions.