UN envoy to N Korea ‘worried’ after trip
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations envoy to North Korea returned from that country deeply worried about the prospects for bringing an end to Kim Jong-un’s nuclear weapons programme, according to a European member of the UN Security Council who was briefed on the visit.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman reported that the North Koreans did not believe the time was right for negotiations, according to the diplomat, who asked not to be identified discussing a closed-door briefing.
Kim’s regime planned to continue developing its nuclear programme until it achieved a deterrent capability, the person said.
Feltman’s trip to Pyongyang followed a late-November missile test that North Korea said showed it could now reach the entirety of the continental United States.
Most military analysts, however, say it is not clear whether North Korea can yet put a miniaturised nuclear weapon on that type of missile, protect it from burning up on re-entry in the Earth’s atmosphere, and successfully deliver it to the US.
‘‘[Feltman] conveyed to council members in vivid terms his deep concern about the situation in the Korean Peninsula,’’ said Jose Luis Diaz, a spokesman for Feltman. ‘‘There is in Pyongyang a somewhat different assessment of the issue.’’
After meeting with the security council on Wednesday, Feltman told reporters he was unsure about the effect of his discussions in Pyongyang.
‘‘I think we’ve left the door ajar,’’ he said. ‘‘I fervently hope that the door to a negotiated solution will now be opened wide.’’
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will take part in a security council meeting tomorrow focused on North Korea. On Wednesday, Tillerson said the US was prepared to talk with North Korea after a ‘‘quiet period’’ without nuclear or missile tests.
‘‘Let’s just meet. We can talk about the weather if you want,’’ Tillerson said in a speech at the Atlantic Council in Washington. ‘‘We can talk about whether it’s going to be a square table or a round table, if that’s what you’re excited about.’’
Tillerson’s remarks generated confusion about whether the US is looking to have talks without preconditions. After his speech, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement she said was in response to Tillerson’s comments.
‘‘The president’s views on North Korea have not changed’’ she said. ‘‘North Korea is acting in an unsafe way not only toward Japan, China, and South Korea, but the entire world. North Korea’s actions are not good for anyone, and certainly not good for North Korea.’’ – Bloomberg