The United States said Wednesday it was encouraged by North Korea's stated willingness to resume negotiations but criticized its latest firing of projectiles as counterproductive.
"It was an encouraging sign that they would like to return to negotiations and that's something we welcome," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters.
"We're committed to talking and negotiating with the North Koreans," she said.
North Korea earlier this week said that it was willing to sit down with the US side for "comprehensive discussions" by the end of the month.
But within hours North Korea resumed firing projectiles, including what leader Kim Jong Un called a test of a "super-large multiple rocket launcher."
"The United States -- and, I think importantly, the international community as well -- we have been united in sending the message to North Korea that provocations like the missile launches are not helpful and that we want the North Koreans to return to negotiations to achieve denuclearization," Ortagus said.
President Donald Trump has met three times with Kim and has repeatedly said that he trusts the young strongman's promises to him, despite the repeated launches.
In February, a summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi ended in stalemate with the United States pressing for more thorough commitments that the regime will give up its nuclear weapons.
Prospects for diplomacy also rose this week with the departure of Trump's national security advisor, John Bolton, a longtime hawk on North Korea who encouraged the president to be cautious in Hanoi.
Ortagus said that no meetings were yet scheduled with North Korea.
China urges US to 'make efforts' on North Korea
Beijing (AFP) Sept 12, 2019 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the United States on Thursday to make efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, warning that applying "maximum pressure" would never work.
Wang also repeated Beijing's suggestion that the United Nations Security Council should consider discussions on easing sanctions against the North.
The isolated regime is under heavy US and UN sanctions over its weapons programme, and has criticised Washington's position that they will not be lifted until the country gives up its nuclear arsenal.
"Since last year, the DPRK has taken a series of positive measures, and on these grounds requested the US to meet halfway and make a positive response," Wang told reporters, using the initials of North Korea's official name.
"We think this is fair and reasonable. We hope that the US side can also take practical measures in this regard, and make due efforts to ease the situation and promote dialogue," he said, after meeting Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Bin Abdullah.
Pyongyang said this week it was willing to hold working-level talks on denuclearisation this month with the United States.
Hours later the North fired unidentified projectiles into the sea -- the latest in a series of provocations by Kim Jong Un's nuclear-armed regime.
Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in February ended without a deal.
The two leaders had agreed to restart working-level dialogue during an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarised Zone dividing North and South Korea in June, but those talks have yet to begin.
Wang said that imposing a list of conditions on North Korea or seeking concessions through maximum pressure "has not worked in the past, it will not work now, and it will not work in the future".
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US says NKorea blocking resumption of nuclear talks
Washington (AFP) Sept 7, 2019
North Korea must stop blocking nuclear talks with the United States before it is too late, the US special envoy to that country said amid a stalemate in the negotiations. "If we are to succeed, North Korea must set aside its search for obstacles to negotiations and instead seek the opportunities for engagement while that opportunity lasts," Stephen Biegun said Friday in a speech at the University of Michigan. The State Department released the text of his remarks on Saturday. The two countri ... read more
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