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North Korea open to dialogue with US under certain conditions

A North Korean diplomat has said that North Korea would be open to dialogue with the US, but only...
Newstalk
Newstalk

18.21 13 May 2017


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North Korea open to dialogue w...

North Korea open to dialogue with US under certain conditions

Newstalk
Newstalk

18.21 13 May 2017


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A North Korean diplomat has said that North Korea would be open to dialogue with the US, but only under certain conditions.  

Choe Son Hui, North Korea's foreign ministry director general for U.S. affairs, made the comment to reporters in Beijing as she was traveling home from Norway. 

She said "We'll have dialogue if the conditions are there," when asked if the North was preparing to hold talks with the Trump administration. 

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She also said "We'll see" when asked about whether North Korea would be prepared to talk with the new government in South Korea, of President Moon Jae-in. 

Choe Son Hui's comments come amid stepped up international efforts to press North Korea and ease tension over its pursuit of nuclear arms.

Major conflict 

U.S. President Donald Trump warned in an interview with Reuters last month that a "major, major conflict" with the North was possible, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute over its nuclear and missile programs.

Trump later said he would be "honored" to meet the North's leader, Kim Jong Un, but also under the right conditions.

Son Hui was in Norway for Track Two talks with former U.S. government officials, according to Japanese media. 

A source with knowledge of the meeting said at least one former U.S. government official took part but the U.S. administration itself was not involved.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests in recent times in defiance of U.N. and U.S. sanctions and is also developing long-range missiles to deliver atomic weapons.


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