Blinken: "Watching North Korea's Words and Actions... Must Seize Diplomatic Opportunity"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated on the 3rd (local time) that the Biden administration's new North Korea policy focuses on diplomacy, expressing hope that North Korea will seize this opportunity and emphasizing that the choice is up to North Korea.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Attending the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting held in the United Kingdom, Secretary Blinken made these remarks during a virtual press conference with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

Secretary Blinken explained that the North Korea policy prepared by the Biden administration aims for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and seeks diplomacy with North Korea to achieve substantial progress in the safety of the United States, its allies, and stationed forces.

He expressed hope that North Korea will seize the opportunity to engage diplomatically, saying, "We intend to observe not only what North Korea says but also what it actually does in the coming days and months."

He added, "We believe we have a very clear policy focused on diplomacy," and stated, "It is up to North Korea to decide whether to engage based on this foundation."

Secretary Blinken also mentioned that the new North Korea policy was developed through substantial consultations with close allies such as South Korea and Japan, and expressed the intention to continue close coordination and consultation with allies and partners including South Korea and Japan going forward.

Secretary Blinken's remarks came amid a situation where the U.S. declared the completion of its North Korea policy review on the 30th of last month, and North Korea responded by warning that it would face a "very serious situation" and that it "would inevitably have to consider corresponding measures," leaving open the possibility of provocations.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor, also emphasized the previous day that the U.S. North Korea policy aims for resolution rather than hostility, sending a message that the U.S. is prepared to engage diplomatically and pursue practical measures.

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