U.S. will not accept N. Korea's step-by-step denuclearization: Biegun
- 5 years ago
Despite the summit breakdown in Hanoi.... Washington's special envoy on North Korea says.... diplomacy continues with North Korea but that the U.S. will NOT accept partial denuclearization.
Our Park Hee-jun reports. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun says dialogue with Pyeongyang "is very much alive."
"Well, let me start by saying the obvious that diplomacy is still very much alive. And while we haven't made as much progress in the six months as I would have hoped coming in on the first day that we stay closely engaged with our counterparts in North Korea."
Speaking at a nuclear conference hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday,... Biegun said President Trump is open to another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
But putting forward an all-or-nothing approach,... he said the U.S. is not going to "do denuclearization incrementally".
He insisted the North has to remove all its weapons of mass destruction,... including its chemical and biological weapons.
According to Biegun, President Trump hopes to achieve it before his first term ends in January 2021.
When the North finishes the process of complete denuclearization,... Biegun said that's when the U.S. will lift the economic sanctions.
As for recent reports on new activity at the Dongchang-ri test site,... Biegun says Washington is closely monitoring the rocket site.
He said he did not know whether the North Korean leader would decide to launch another missile.
But he reiterated President Trump would be disappointed if Kim were to resume nuclear testing.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
Our Park Hee-jun reports. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun says dialogue with Pyeongyang "is very much alive."
"Well, let me start by saying the obvious that diplomacy is still very much alive. And while we haven't made as much progress in the six months as I would have hoped coming in on the first day that we stay closely engaged with our counterparts in North Korea."
Speaking at a nuclear conference hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday,... Biegun said President Trump is open to another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
But putting forward an all-or-nothing approach,... he said the U.S. is not going to "do denuclearization incrementally".
He insisted the North has to remove all its weapons of mass destruction,... including its chemical and biological weapons.
According to Biegun, President Trump hopes to achieve it before his first term ends in January 2021.
When the North finishes the process of complete denuclearization,... Biegun said that's when the U.S. will lift the economic sanctions.
As for recent reports on new activity at the Dongchang-ri test site,... Biegun says Washington is closely monitoring the rocket site.
He said he did not know whether the North Korean leader would decide to launch another missile.
But he reiterated President Trump would be disappointed if Kim were to resume nuclear testing.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.