United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson has directly rebutted North Korea's representative to the United Nations, rejecting his claim that the US is to blame for tensions on the Korean peninsula and declaring that he and the White House are in lockstep on policy.
According to CNN report, Tillerson who had earlier disclosed US readiness to dialogue with North Korea without any preconditions changed position on Friday at the specially convened UN Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. Tillerson clarified that "a sustained cessation of North Korea's threatening behavior must occur before talks can begin. North Korea must earn its way back to the table.
"In the meantime, the US will continue a campaign to pressure North Korea diplomatically and financially. And militarily we are going to be prepared should something go wrong. There is but one party that has carried out illegal detonation of illegal devices, there is but one party that launches intercontinental ballistic missiles ... that is the Kim regime in North Korea. North Koreans alone are responsible for these tensions, they alone must take responsibility for these tensions, and they alone can solve these tensions.
The acts of North Korea are a clear violation of international law that cannot be ignored and the regime must be held accountable. Our communication channels remain open. North Korea knows they're open, they know where the door is, they know where to walk through the door when they want to.
We have been clear that all options remain on the table in the defense of our nation, but we do not seek, nor do we want, war with North Korea. The United States will use all necessary measures to defend itself against North Korean aggression, but our hope remains that diplomacy will produce a resolution."
Meanwhile, North Korea's Ambassador Ja Song Nam says that the Nuclear program is an inevitable self-defense measure against the United States
