An informal strategic forum between the U.S., Japan, India and Australia committed to pursuing North Korean denuclearization and resolving the Japanese abductee issue on Friday, but didn't mention pursuing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The 'Quad', which issued a joint statement after conducting its first virtual meeting among leaders of the four countries, touched on North Korea issues ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's trip to Seoul and Tokyo next week.