WEB DESK
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has backed away from his offer of unconditional talks with North Korea. During a ministerial-level meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday, Tillerson said discussions can only take place after a sustained cessation of North Korea’s threatening behaviour. He said the pressure campaign must and will continue until denuclearization is achieved.
Tillerson also urged Russia and China to put more pressure on Pyongyang by taking action beyond mere compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The US Secretary told the media after the meeting that the United States would not accept any preconditions for talks with North Korea.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Ja Song Nam, has ruled out the possibility of talks with the US in the current circumstances. He was speaking to reporters after a ministerial-level meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday.
The ambassador said that while the US is calling for talks without preconditions, it continues to impose pressure through sanctions. He said the situation is not persuading his country to enter into dialogue.