October 24, 2021
09:05
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Recent tests of North Korean ballistic missiles have been “disturbing and counterproductive” to efforts to reduce tensions, and Pyongyang must agree to talks instead, US Special Envoy for North Korea Sun Kim said in Seoul on Sunday. , quoted by BTA.
He told reporters after meeting with his South Korean counterpart No Kyu-duk that the United States was committed to seeking “sustainable diplomacy in substance” with North Korea.
“Our goal remains the full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Sun Kim said. peninsula “.
For now, Pyongyang has rejected US proposals and accused Washington and Seoul of talking about diplomacy while fueling tensions with their own military activities.
The North said Thursday that the United States was overreacting to a test of a ballistic missile fired from a submarine that Pyongyang said was defensive. The North Korean statement questioned the sincerity of Washington’s proposals for talks and warned of possible consequences.
The ballistic missile test violates numerous UN Security Council resolutions and poses a threat to North Korea’s neighbors and the international community, the US envoy said. “We call on the DPRK to end provocations and other destabilizing actions and instead start a dialogue,” he said, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name. “We remain ready to meet with the DPRK without preconditions and we have made it clear that the United States has no hostile intentions towards the DPRK,” Sun Kim said.
For his part, South Korean nuclear envoy No Kyu-duk said his conversation with Sun Kim on Sunday included a “serious” discussion of Seoul’s proposal to formally declare an end to the state of war, which formally continues after the Korean War. from 1950-53, which ended with a truce instead of a peace treaty.
South Korean officials view the statement as a gesture of goodwill before talks begin.
Sun Kim said the United States was discussing ways to make progress in contacts with North Korea, including Seoul’s proposal to end the state of war and possible humanitarian aid projects.
