Ahead of the South Korea-US-Japan National Security Advisors Meeting, North Korea Policy Direction Announced
UN US Ambassador Hints at Possible Additional Sanctions on North Korea
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House in the United States announced that President Joe Biden will not meet with Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea. Secretary of State Tony Blinken emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan to address North Korea's nuclear and missile issues. The U.S. side also hinted at plans to pursue UN-level responses to North Korea's missile provocations.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a regular briefing on the 29th (local time) in response to a question asking, "Does the diplomacy that President Biden mentioned being ready for include meeting with Chairman Kim?" that "I think his approach will be quite different," and "That is not his intention."
At his first official press conference since taking office on the 25th, President Biden pointed out that North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions but also mentioned that diplomatic solutions with North Korea are being prepared.
During last year's presidential candidate TV debate, President Biden criticized the North Korea-U.S. summit for only legitimizing General Secretary Kim and stated that he would not meet Chairman Kim without any conditions.
While acknowledging that North Korea's denuclearization is an urgent task, President Biden has repeatedly expressed his intention to delegate authority to diplomats.
Secretary Blinken, in a virtual briefing with foreign correspondents in New York on the same day, said that the review of North Korea policy is in its final stages and mentioned the importance of cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
Secretary Blinken recalled that North Korea's recent short-range ballistic missile launches violate UN Security Council resolutions and emphasized, "We understand how important coordination with South Korea and Japan is on the issue of North Korea's denuclearization. The development of trilateral cooperation is necessary."
He also stressed, "The missile launches have no effect in shaking the resolve of our three countries to approach North Korea from a position of strength." This suggests a possible pressure on improving South Korea-Japan relations before resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
Secretary Blinken explained, "I conveyed the opinions I heard during my visits to South Korea and Japan to President Biden and my colleagues."
Secretary Blinken added, "We also discussed North Korea during the high-level talks with China held in Alaska. Beijing is also very interested in this issue."
Secretary Blinken's remarks are seen as outlining the U.S. North Korea policy ahead of the upcoming trilateral meeting of national security advisors from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan scheduled for this week.
Meanwhile, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, introduced that a meeting of the UN North Korea Sanctions Committee was held regarding North Korea's short-range missile launches and said, "We are reviewing possible response measures that can be taken in New York." This is interpreted as a mention that the U.S. may resolve countermeasures against North Korea through Security Council-level meetings.
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