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피터빈트

US still open to dialogue with NK after pause in weapons testing: envoy

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 8, 2017 - 14:35

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WASHINGTON -- The United States would still be open to having dialogue with North Korea if the regime stopped its weapons testing and stated its willingness to hold talks, Washington's envoy on its nuclear issue said Thursday.

Tensions rose again after North Korea last week launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile it said was capable of striking all parts of the US with a nuclear weapon.

The launch broke a 75-day lull in testing that had raised hopes for a resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. US Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun had earlier stated that 60 days without testing would send a signal for talks with Washington.

"I think, regarding 60 days or any number of days, we made it clear. Secretary (of State Rex) Tillerson has made it clear that a good first step for North Korea would be to stop testing nuclear devices and missiles. And then we are open to holding a dialogue,"

This file photo shows U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun. (Yonhap) This file photo shows U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun. (Yonhap)

Yun said at an event co-hosted by the Korea Foundation and the George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies.

"But of course, diplomacy is not about operating blind. When you stop testing, for example, you really ought to tell us you are stopping testing because you want a dialogue. Otherwise, we're not into reading tea leaves and saying: Why are they stopping testing?" he said.

The US has made diplomatic outreach to North Korea, according to Yun. The ambassador has also spent a lot of time talking to officials there through his own channel.

"What is it we have to do to stop these, we commonly term, provocations? And really, we are left in the dark," he noted. "So far, I can report no real progress on diplomatic engagement. So really, when there is no progress in diplomatic engagement despite us having reached out, there is no choice but continued pressure policies."

Those policies entail economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

"It's very important to state your intentions. And then, I do believe if they stop testing for a period of time and told that to us, then I think it would open some space for dialogue," the envoy said. (Yonhap)

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