WASHINGTON: The United States emphasizes the importance of dialogue with North Korea, particularly regarding the prevention of unintended conflicts on the Korean Peninsula, a spokesperson from the National Security Council (NSC) stated on Monday. The spokesperson reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to the complete denuclearization of the peninsula, emphasizing that this stance remains unchanged.
The statement follows recent comments by Mira Rapp-Hooper, NSC’s senior director for East Asia and Oceania, suggesting that the US may consider “interim steps” towards North Korea’s denuclearization, sparking speculation about a potential shift in US policy.
“Our position on achieving the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains steadfast,” the spokesperson affirmed, using North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). “While we remain focused on this goal, there are various critical discussions we wish to engage in with the DPRK, including measures to reduce the risk of unintended military conflicts on the peninsula.”
The spokesperson also encouraged North Korea to resume substantive discussions aimed at managing military risks and fostering lasting peace in the region.
In light of North Korea’s nullification of a 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction agreement, concerns have risen regarding potential accidental clashes between the two Koreas. Against this backdrop, Seoul and Washington commenced a significant joint military exercise on Monday, emphasizing that the drills are defensive in nature.
Meaningful nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea have been stalled since the Hanoi summit in February 2019, where no agreement was reached.
