North Korea on Thursday said it would neglect all efforts by the United States to promote communication or communication while Washington pursued what it called “hostile policy,” the U.S. Secretary of State said. Antony Blinken that both pressure and diplomatic options on the inward board deal with Pyongyang.
Northern’s first Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui spoke as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin was in the south for the second leg of a side tour. northeast Asian designed to strengthen a united north face and an increasingly confident journey. China.
The pair have repeatedly called for the “total denuclearization of North Korea” on their tour, which began in Japan.
There could be no communication or dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang “unless the U.S. sends hostile policy back to the DPRK,” Choe said in a statement held Thursday by the official Korean News Agency. referring to the north by its official name.
“So we don’t pay attention to such a U.S. effort in the future as well.”
The “new regime” in the US, she said, had merely put forward a “lunar theory of a ‘threat from North Korea’ and unfounded astronomy about ‘total denuclearization’.”
Choe acknowledged that the U.S. had recently tried to start a dialogue, but described the efforts as a “cheap ploy”.
In response to the latest statement from Pyongyang, Secretary of State Blinken told Thursday’s meeting with South Korean officials in Seoul that President Joe Biden’s administration would conclude its review of North Korean policy in Seoul. the next few weeks in close consultation with allies.
“Ministers and secretaries reaffirmed North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile issues as a priority for the alliance, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to address and resolve these issues,” the statement said.
Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride, reporting from Seoul, said that while the U.S. and South Korea agree on the denuclearization goal in North Korea, the two friendly countries are different in terms of what can be achieved.
‘We were very sorry’
Pyongyang has closed its borders for more than a year to try to defend itself against a pandemic outbreak that first appeared in nearby China.
It has been silent since Biden began in January, with state media not even mentioning the new U.S. leadership until this week.
Blinken ‘s views in Japan had “severely affected us,” Choe said.
“We know what senseless astronomy he would do in South Korea to take the world by surprise.”
Al Jazeera’s McBride, with the latest “difficult words” from Pyongyang, said he is urging the U.S. to “take the next step in their relationship.”
Great to meet today with Foreign Minister ROK Chung. The US-ROK Alliance is critical to addressing the challenges of sharing and protecting common values in Northeast Asia, the #IndoPacific area, and worldwide. pic.twitter.com/bZ69aABMxB
– Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 17, 2021
Blinken and Austin held talks with their peers Thursday and in the afternoon they were scheduled to meet with President Moon Jae-in, who broke the process of talks between Kim and then-US President Donald Trump in in 2018.
On Wednesday, Blinken also accused Pyongyang of “systematic and widespread abuse” against its own people, reiterating the U.S. position on North Korean denuclearization.
The two American officials are in the midst of a review of Washington’s policy toward the North.
‘Equal meeting’
Trump’s neutral approach to foreign policy saw trade insults and threats of war with Kim Jong Un before the start of a remarkable diplomatic relationship that saw a series of head-on meetings, beginning in Singapore.
But ultimately no progress has been made toward Washington’s stated goal of attracting North Korea, with the second summit in Hanoi in early 2019 breaking up over control-relief. bonds and what Pyongyang would be willing to give back.
The North remains under multiple international sanctions for its banned weapons programs, which they say it needs to prevent a possible U.S. attack.
The North remains under multiple international sanctions for its banned weapons programs, which they say it needs to prevent a U.S. invasion [File: KCNA/Reuters]
Shortly before Biden began in January, Kim criticized the U.S. as the country’s “most advanced main enemy” and Pyongyang unveiled new ballistic missiles launched at an arms parade.
Choe said Thursday that Pyongyang and Washington would have to meet alike to hold talks.
“We are making it clear that we will not give him such opportunities in Singapore and Hanoi again,” she said.
Since mid-February, Washington has tried to reach out to Pyongyang “through several channels,” State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said earlier in the week.
“So far, we have not received any response from Pyongyang,” she said.