WASHINGTON, 01 Feb. – The United States is looking for optimal ways to advance the denuclearization process in North Korea and also to face the “growing problems” related to its nuclear weapons, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Blinken said these measures could include additional sanctions but also diplomatic incentives.
“It is a problem, a serious problem which has worsened over time, and I would be the first to admit that it is a problem which has worsened in all administrations,” said the senior American diplomat to About the North Korean nuclear issue in an interview with NBC News aired Monday.
“So the first thing the president has asked us to do is to review the policy to make sure that we are using the most effective tools to advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and deal with the problem, the growing problem posed. by the North Korean arsenal, ”he added.
Blinken said earlier that the new administration would review “the country’s entire approach and policy on North Korea” and find ways to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.
The North has stayed out of the denuclearization talks since the second summit between leader Kim Jong-un and former US President Donald Trump ended without a deal in Hanoi in February 2019. The first summit Trump-Kim was held in Singapore in June 2018.
The US secretary of state declined to give a clear answer when asked what Kim should do to secure a meeting with President Joe Biden.
“Well, the first thing we’re going to do is review the policy as a whole to look at the tools at our disposal, including additional sanctions, including, in particular, additional coordination as well as cooperation with allies and partners, but also to examine diplomatic incentives, ”he said. “So once we do that, we’ll be able to tell you how we plan to move forward.”
The new secretary of state took office last Tuesday, about a week after Biden was sworn in as president.
Biden previously criticized Trump’s meetings with Kim for not leading to any progress while giving Kim worldwide recognition as a leader.
Still, Biden said he too could agree to meet with Kim if it helps advance the North’s denuclearization process.
(Yonhap)
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