SEOUL – North Korean Overseas Minister Ri Yong Ho mentioned on Friday Pyongyang is prepared for each dialogue and confrontation with the USA, warning Washington that persevering with with sanctions could be a miscalculation, in accordance with state media KCNA.
Working-level talks between the USA and North Korea have but to restart since stalling after the failed second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean chief Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February.
Trump and Kim met once more in June on the inter-Korean border and agreed to reopen negotiations, however that has not occurred as but.
“If the U.S. continues to be dreaming of attaining every little thing with sanctions, we should both let it dream on or shatter that dream,” Ri mentioned.
“We’re ready for each dialogue and confrontation. If the U.S. tries to confront us with sanctions and never abandon its confrontational posture, it could be a miscalculation.”
Ri additionally accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of casting “darkish shadows” over U.S.-North Korea talks, claiming that Pompeo was extra fascinated with his personal political ambitions than in present U.S. overseas coverage.
The remarks on KCNA had been prompted by Pompeo’s feedback in a media interview this week saying if North Korea doesn’t denuclearise, the U.S. will keep the strongest sanctions in historical past whereas convincing North Korea that denuclearisation is the best path, Ri mentioned.
U.S. envoy Stephen Biegun, who leads working-level talks with North Korea, arrived in Seoul on Tuesday to debate the talks.
Denuclearisation talks had been anticipated to be reopened quickly, South Korea’s deputy nationwide safety adviser Kim Hyun-chong mentioned, giving his upbeat evaluation after assembly Biegun on Thursday.