US dismisses DPRK talks unless nuclear program dropped

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‍The United States ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday that Washington would not participate in any talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea unless Pyongyang took steps to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

"North Korea (DPRK) can talk to anyone they want, but the US is not going to recognize it or acknowledge it until they agree to ban the nuclear weapons that they have," Haley said.

Seoul tabled the idea of talks with Pyongyang on Tuesday after DPRK leader Kim Jong Un offered an olive branch during his New Year's address in which he said he was "open to dialogue," while calling for a "peaceful resolution with our southern border."

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un delivers a New Year's speech, January 1, 2018. /VCG Photo

Kim also said he hoped to send DPRK athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang next month.

But his attitude switched when talking about his country's nuclear ambitions. He stressed that the DPRK would push ahead with "mass producing" nuclear warheads in defiance of UN sanctions and there was "a launch button on the desk in my office at all times."

US President Donald Trump responded to Kim in a tweet on Wednesday, saying "I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

Screenshot of Trump's tweet

Haley warned the DPRK on Tuesday against staging another missile test.

"I hope that doesn't happen. But if it does, we must bring even tougher measures to bear against the North Korean (DPRK) regime," she said.

Source(s): Reuters