The United States is ready to engage in a dialogue with North Korea, according to President Barack Obama during a recent joint press conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
The United States and South Korea are both deeply concerned about the continued progress of North Korea’s missile and nuclear capabilities, which are prohibited by the United Nations. Pres. Obama and Pres. Park committed to addressing the problem with utmost urgency and determination.
In his remarks, Pres. Obama said the United States support South Korea’s efforts to improve its relations with North Korea. According to him, “As my administration has shown with Iran and with Cuba, we are also prepared to engage nations with which we’ve had troubled histories.”
However, Pres. Obama emphasized that North Korea” needs to understand that it will not achieve economic development as long as it clings to nuclear weapons.”
US, South Korea will never accept North Korea as nuclear state
Pres. Obama added that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs achieved nothing, and it only deepened its isolation. According to him, the United States and South Korea remained committed that they will never accept North Korea as a nuclear state.
“We will continue to insist that Pyongyang mus abide by its obligations on the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the peninsula in a peaceful manner,” said Pres. Obama.
Pres. Obama also stated that the US and South Korea will continue to expose the horrific abuses of North Korea to its people, and call for accountability for its human rights violations.
The U.S. Pres. also praised Pres. Park for resolving the Pyongyang’s reckless actions in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that injured two South Korean soldiers. Pres. Obama said the incident reminded North Korea that “North Korea was reminded that any provocation or aggression will be met with a strong, united response by South Korea and the United States.”
Pres. Obama and Pres. Park urged North Korea to abide by its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. Both leaders emphasized that the US and South Korea including the international community are ready to extend cooperative measures if Pyongyang demonstrates its genuine willingness towards denuclearization.
They maintain a no hostile policy towards North Korea and open to dialogue to achieve their common goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
North Korea will face consequences if it will carry out a nuclear test
The United States and South Korea are committed to preventing any provocation by North Korea and resolve the nuclear problem. Washington will continue to strengthen its coordinated efforts with the international community including China, Japan, and Russia.
Last month, Russia emphasized that it does not recognize North Korea as a nuclear state, and openly rejected its nuclear program. Russia’s envoy to South Korea Alexander Timonin recently stated that Pres. Kim Jong-un needs to uphold the commitments of his father in 2005 under the Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks.
Pres. Obama and Pres. Park warned that Pyongyang will face consequences it will-will launch ballistic missiles or conduct a nuclear test. Both leaders said they would seek further and significant measures by the UN Security Council such as sanctions.
A South Korean lawmaker recently announced that North Korea is preparing a nuclear test, but it is not imminent. He obtained the information from South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency.
Pyongyang was expected to launch long-range, multiple rockets over the next few months as part of its project ti set up multiple satellites into the outer space. Pyongyang wants to become a major space power, according to its scientists.
The North Korean scientists emphasize that their primary goal is to conduct a peaceful space exploration. They were outraged by the ongoing speculations that they are operating a secret program to develop a ballistic missile.
South Korea and the United States believe that North Korea’s planned satellite launch is a strategy to cover its tests for its ballistic missile technology.
South Korea-US Alliance
In her remarks, Pres. Park noted that the relationship between the United States and South Korea was evolving from a security and economic alliance into a comprehensive global alliance.
She also expressed gratitude to President Obama for his support for her government’s ideas on peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
“The Korea-U.S. alliance is the linchpin of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. And there exists a synergy between President Obama’s rebalancing policy in the Asia Pacific and our Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative, or NAPCI,” said Pres. Park.
She added that Pres. Obama recognized the initiative in the revival of the Korea-Japan-China trilateral, which may contribute to a meaningful improvement in bilateral relations in the region.
Pres. Park further stated, “Regional peace and stability becomes stronger when countries within the region build closer ties of mutual economic dependency. In this regard, I would like to congratulate President Obama on the successful conclusion of TPP negotiations. Korea and the U.S. already have an FTA with very high standards.”
Pres. Obama and Pres. Park also agreed to have agreed to strengthen cooperation on climate change, development cooperation, U.N. peacekeeping operations, nuclear security, humanitarian aid for refugees, violent extremism, and other urgent global issues.
