North Korea yesterday offered high-level talks with the US to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula, but the White House said that any talks must involve Pyongyang taking action to show it is moving toward scrapping its nuclear weapons.
US to discuss offer with Japan and South Korea this week
The offer came only days after North Korea abruptly cancelled planned official talks with South Korea, the first planned talks in more two years.
The North blamed the South for scuttling discussions that sought to mend estranged ties between the rival Koreas.
The North Korea National Defence Commission in a statement carried by KCNA news agency yesterday said Washington can pick a date and place for talks and the two sides can discuss a range of issues, but no preconditions should be attached.
“In order to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula and to achieve regional peace and safety, we propose to hold high-level talks between the DPRK and the US,” said the spokesman for the North’s National Defence Commission in the statement.
North Korea’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“If the US is truly interested in securing regional peace and safety and easing tensions, it should not mention of preconditions for the talks,” the statement said.
The US will discuss the new offer in meetings with Japan and South Korea in Washington tomorrow and Wednesday, a senior administration official said.
Washington has been sceptical of any move by Pyongyang for dialogue as it has repeatedly backtracked on deals, the latest in 2012 when it agreed to a missile and nuclear test moratorium, only to fire a rocket weeks later.
“We have always favoured dialogue and, in fact, have open lines of communication with the DPRK,” said Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council.
“Our desire is to have credible negotiations with the North Koreans, but those talks must involve North Korea living up to its obligations to the world, including compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions, and ultimately result in denuclearisation,” Hayden said in statement.
“We will judge North Korea by its actions, and not its words and look forward to seeing steps that show North Korea is ready to abide by its commitments and obligations,” she said.
Earlier this year, North Korea threatened nuclear and missile strikes against South Korea and the US after it was hit with UN sanctions for its February nuclear weapons test.