US ‘prepared’ for more North Korean nuclear, missile tests: State Department
The U.S.’ top North Korea policy official slammed recent statements from Pyongyang as “provocative” and said Washington will be “prepared” for nuclear and missile tests as North Korea readies celebrations for one of its biggest holidays next week.
The remarks came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s high-ranking sister Kim Yo Jong threatened the “extermination” of South Korean armed forces after Seoul’s defense minister described capabilities to hit North Korean missile launch points.
“We obviously hope that instead of making such provocative statements, that they would focus instead on some serious engagement,” said Sung Kim, special representative for the DPRK, during a State Department press briefing on Wednesday.
Kim also expressed concerns over “the threat posed by the DPRK” against the world’s security as well as further “proactive actions” that may come as North Korea prepares to celebrate the 110th birthday of late leader Kim Il Sung on April 15.
While stressing that diplomacy is “the only viable path forward” for stability on the Korean Peninsula, Kim assured that the U.S. will be “prepared” if North Korea conducts another missile or a nuclear test.
“We have had closest possible communication and coordination with both governments, Tokyo and Seoul, and that will continue, especially as we anticipate that there may be further provocative actions by the DPRK,” Kim said, adding that one of the possible measures include strengthening the alliance’s “deterrent capability.”
Kim also suggested that the Biden administration’s push for more sanctions at the U.N. Security Council after North Korea’s long-range missile test late last month has been unsuccessful amid Chinese and Russian opposition.
“We have had discussions with the PRC and Russia,” said Kim, who met with Beijing’s Korea policy pointman Liu Xiaoming this week. “Unfortunately, I cannot report that we have had productive discussions with them thus far, but I would defer to my very capable colleagues in New York to continue that effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Liu has met with dozens of officials and diplomats from different countries since North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch on March 24, promoting dialogue as “the only right way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue.”
Edited by Arius Derr
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