Tillerson urges DPRK to 'earn its way back to table'

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) must "earn its way back" to the negotiating table, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday, backing away from an earlier offer of unconditional talks to end the standoff with Pyongyang.

Tillerson told the UN Security Council that a "sustained cessation of North Korea's [DPRK's] threatening behavior must occur before talks can begin," apparently after coming under pressure from President Donald Trump's White House to toughen his stance.

Earlier this week at a policy forum in Washington, Tillerson had underlined that the United States was seeking a diplomatic opening for negotiations with the DPRK on ending its nuclear program and, for the first time, offered "talks with no preconditions."

The White House had responded to Tillerson's remarks by insisting there had been no change in US policy, triggering a new round of reports of a rift between Trump and his chief diplomat.

At the United Nations, Tillerson took a tough line. "North Korea [DPRK] must earn its way back to the table," he said. "The pressure campaign must and will continue until denuclearization is achieved."

"We will, in the meantime, keep our channels of communication open." Tillerson repeated that "we do not seek, nor do we want, war with North Korea [DPRK]."

"The United States will use all necessary measures to defend itself against North Korean [DPRK's] aggression, but our hope remains that diplomacy will produce a resolution," he said.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (C) gives field guidance to various units in Samjiyon County, in this photo released by DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, December 9, 2017. /Reuters Photo

According to a prepared version of his remarks, Tillerson had planned to repeat his offer of talks without preconditions, but the line was dropped from his speech. Asked about the change, Tillerson told reporters afterwards that the United States would not make any concessions of its own to secure talks, but that lines of communication would remain open if the DPRK wanted to come forward.

People in Pyongyang "know where the door is. They know where to walk through that door when they want to talk," he said.

'Peace-loving state'

DPRK's UN ambassador Ja Song Nam made a rare appearance at the council meeting chaired by Japan. Ja took a swipe at the United States which he said was "terrified by the incredible might of our republic" and reaffirmed Pyongyang's view that nuclear weapons were needed for self-defense.

The DPRK is "a responsible nuclear power and a peace-loving state" that will strive to safeguard world peace, he said, making no mention of the US call for a pause in missile and nuclear tests.

DPRK's Ambassador to the United Nations Ja Song Nam listens to remarks delivered during a UN Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York, US, December 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Tillerson urged Beijing and Moscow to go beyond the current tough UN sanction resolutions and impose unilateral measures.

In Washington, Trump criticized Russia for doing too little to pressure Pyongyang. "China is helping. Russia is not helping. We would like to have Russia's help," said Trump, who discussed the crisis by phone with President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Russia's Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia shot back, saying: "We very much hope that the US will be able to help resolve the crisis on the Korean Peninsula."

China's envoy expressed concern about a hardening of positions, saying the current crisis "hardly makes one optimistic."

Chinese envoy to the United Nations Wu Haitao delivers remarks during a UN Security Council meeting at UN headquarters in New York, US, December 15, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"The hope for peace is not totally obliterated," said Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Wu Haitao. There is "a possibility for negotiation and the option of use of force is unacceptable."

Pyongyang has carried out its sixth nuclear test and conducted a series of missile launches including its first tests of two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) this year.

Addressing the council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged diplomatic engagement to avoid a "level of danger that would be unpredictable in its trajectory and catastrophic in its consequences."

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Source(s): AFP