Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that South Korea and the United States are aligned in their North Korea policy and remain committed to the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. "Through multiple summit meetings, South Korea and the U.S. have confirmed their aligned policy stance toward North Korea and their commitment to coordination," Cho said during a parliamentary audit of the foreign ministry. "We have continued close consultations with the U.S. to encourage North Korea to return to dialogue and negotiations," he said, vowing continued efforts to encourage "constructive roles from China and Russia." The minister stressed the government's commitment to seeking "substantive progress" on the North Korean nuclear issue through a phased and practical approach aimed at halting, reducing and eventually dismantling its nuclear capabilities. There have been concerns that Washington could shift its policy focus toward goals short of denuclearization, such as arms control or tension reduction, after U.S. President Donald Trump in August declined to answer a reporter's question abo