The U.S. and South Korea called for “delaying” North Korea’s nuclear development but made no mention of seeking Pyongyang’s denuclearization in a joint statement on Wednesday, a move that experts said marks a significant shift in the allies’ policy messaging.

The omission of references to denuclearization came in a joint communique by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and ROK Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun, following their 56th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Washington.

Austin and Kim “expressed grave concern that the DPRK continues to modernize and diversify its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities,” according to the joint statement, published