U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday South Korea will not lift sanctions on Pyongyang without U.S. approval, after the South Korean foreign minister softened earlier comments that some of its unilateral sanctions were under review.
Trump's rejection of South Korea easing sanctions alone outlines the official position of the United States and South Korea that the two countries remain in lockstep on North Korea.
He has encouraged U.S. allies to maintain sanctions on North Korea until it denuclearizes as part of his administration's "maximum pressure" campaign against Pyongyang.