White House "No Change in North Korea Policy"... Refrains from Commenting on North Korean Missile Launch

Emphasis on Maintaining a Diplomatic Resolution Stance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House of the United States stated that North Korea's test launch of a long-range cruise missile does not affect relations with North Korea.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned this on the 13th (local time) during a press meeting while President Joe Biden was visiting the California region.

When asked, "At what point will you engage diplomatically with North Korea?" Deputy Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said, "We remain ready to engage North Korea toward the goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," adding, "Our stance on North Korea has not changed."

Deputy Press Secretary Jean-Pierre explained, "Our policy keeps the door open to diplomacy with North Korea to achieve tangible progress in enhancing the security of the United States, our allies, and our deployed forces, pursuing a coordinated and pragmatic approach."

She further emphasized, "Our offer is to meet anytime, anywhere, unconditionally," and reiterated, "Our diplomatic efforts have not changed."

When asked whether the White House responded to North Korea's missile launch over the weekend, Jean-Pierre said, "The Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement. Please refer to that," avoiding specific comments. This is similar to the State Department's earlier stance of referring to the Indo-Pacific Command's statement instead of making direct remarks.

The Indo-Pacific Command, in a statement the previous day, said, "North Korea's missile launch act highlights that North Korea continues to focus on developing its military programs and the threat it poses to neighboring countries and the international community," adding, "The U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan is ironclad."

The responses from the White House and State Department can be seen as expressing a position to uphold diplomatic principles without escalating tensions despite North Korea's provocations.

Since long-range cruise missiles are not subject to UN Security Council sanctions, this strategy reflects a decision not to be drawn into North Korea's provocations based on test launches that were not even observed by Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

On the 13th, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency announced that it successfully conducted test launches of a new long-range cruise missile on the 11th and 12th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.