US envoy: Dialogue with North Korea is an option
(VOVWORLD) - The chief US envoy to North Korea said on Monday that “diplomacy is still very much alive” with Pyongyang despite a failed summit last month.
 US President Donald Trum and DPRK leader meet at 2nd DPRK-USA summit in Hanoi in February, 2019 |
Mr. Stephen Biegun told the Carnegie Nuclear Conference in Washington that US-led sanctions, which Pyongyang wants dropped, would stay in place until North Korea completes denuclearization. He rejected the incremental approach sought by Pyongyang, and said that easing sanctions for partial denuclearization would amount to subsidizing North Korea’s weapons programs.
North Korean propaganda outlets said Tuesday that the country remains firmly committed to denuclearization, in an indication of Pyongyang's willingness to continue negotiations with the United States, despite the breakdown of last month's summit. In an article titled "Path to complete denuclearization is our unwavering stance," Uriminzokkiri, one of the North's propaganda websites, also said that the two countries agreed to continue "productive dialogues" to resolve the issues discussed at the Hanoi summit.