‘North Korea must accept US terms’
sharjah — North Korea must meet America’s demands to “sit down face-to-face for a meeting with the US”, Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary, said, while speaking on the sidelines of the International Government Communications Forum in Sharjah on Wednesday,
Spicer’s comment was in reaction to reports that North Korea had requested for a meeting with the US earlier this year. It was reported earlier this month the US President Donald Trump had accepted a meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un. South Korea leaders had met with Kim Jong-un to discuss the denuclearisation agreement.
“We understand the threat North Korea poses, so we need to get those dialogues moving. But I think there are certain conditions that the president played out and those conditions need to get met before North Korea comes to a face-to-face meeting. I think that’s the big issue here,” Spicer said.
For decades, the US and international community have tried to negotiate with North Korea on putting an end to their nuclear and missile development and tests, as well as its export of ballistic missile technology. However, the efforts have consistently failed over the years. North Korea has made several threats to nuke the US.
Chung Eui-yong, Seoul’s national security office chief, then met with Trump, where he was briefed on North Korea’s revived mission to refrain from further nuclear or missile tests.
“I told President Trump that, in our meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is committed to denuclearisation. Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests. He understands that the routine joint military exercises between the Republic of [South] Korea and the United States must continue. And he expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible,” Chung Eui-yong had said in a statement after the meeting.
The White House also released a statement after the meeting, confirming that Trump was ready to meet with Kim Jong-un. “President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearisation. Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon. ,” the statement said.