Blinken: "North Korea's missile launch is a dangerous act undermining stability"

No Hostile Intentions, Demands Unconditional Return to Dialogue
Foresees North Missile Defense Cooperation Through Alliance Collaboration

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken criticized North Korea's successive missile tests as dangerous acts that undermine stability and violate UN Security Council resolutions, while urging an unconditional return to dialogue.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th (local time), in an interview with MSNBC, Secretary Blinken stated, "A few months ago, we made it clear that we were ready to engage with North Korea without preconditions to see if we could find a path toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," adding, "We made it clear that we have no hostile intent toward North Korea."

He also pointed out, "We waited to see if they were ready to engage, but unfortunately, North Korea did not respond to such an offer and instead conducted new missile tests." He emphasized, "North Korea's missile launches are fundamentally very destabilizing and dangerous, and they violate UN Security Council resolutions."

Secretary Blinken's stance appears to reaffirm the existing position of not antagonizing North Korea despite its military provocations, leaving open the possibility of dialogue. At the same time, it also maintains the position that preemptive measures such as sanction relief to initiate talks with North Korea are not being considered.

Regarding North Korea's missile launches, Secretary Blinken assessed, "I think some of North Korea's actions are attempts to attract attention," adding, "They have done so in the past and probably will continue to do so."

Secretary Blinken emphasized blocking North Korea's threats through alliances. He said, "We (the U.S.) and our allies and partners are very focused on ensuring appropriate defense and making sure there are impacts and consequences for North Korea's actions."