'Will North America Dialogue Happen?'... US Finds Kim's Statement "Interesting," Prepares for Both Dialogue and Confrontation

"Waiting for a Clear Signal" Statement
US Response in Focus During Sung Kim's Visit as Special Envoy for North Korea

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor to the White House (NSC), evaluated Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, presenting a message for the first time since the launch of the Joe Biden administration that both dialogue and confrontation must be prepared for, as an interesting signal.

On the 21st (local time), Sullivan said in an interview with ABC News, "We see his (General Secretary Kim's) remarks this week as an interesting signal." He added, "We will wait and see what kind of more direct communication they follow up with regarding the path they will take moving forward."

He emphasized, "What President Biden conveyed is that we are ready to engage in principled negotiations with North Korea," and said, "We are waiting for a clear signal from Pyongyang on whether they are ready to sit at the table to start working in that direction."

When asked exactly what he expects, Sullivan said, "A clear signal they can send is saying, 'Yes, let's do it, let's sit down and start negotiations.'"

He continued, "I believe there is no substitute for diplomacy to make progress on the North Korean nuclear issue," reiterating that the ultimate goal is the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Earlier, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the 18th that General Secretary Kim said at the Workers' Party plenary meeting held on the 17th (local time), "We must focus on managing the situation on the Korean Peninsula stably," and "We must be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation."

With Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, currently visiting South Korea, the possibility that the U.S. side will also send messages to lure North Korea into dialogue cannot be ruled out.

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