No conditions, let’s just talk, Tillerson tells North Korea

REX TILLERSON, the US secretary of state, last night offered to begin talks with North Korea without any prior conditions, in what appeared to be a softening of the US’S stance toward Pyongyang.

The US has previously demanded that Kim Jong-un’s rogue regime demonstrate a willingness to consider giving up its nuclear programme.

But Mr Tillerson, speaking in Washington, said: “We’re ready to have the first meeting without preconditions.”

He added: “Let’s just meet and let’s talk about the weather if you want, and talk about whether it’s going to be a square table or a round table if that’s what you’re excited about.”

“Then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map, of what we might be willing to work towards. We’re ready to talk any time they’d like to talk.”

It was not clear whether Donald Trump, who has accused Mr Tillerson of “wasting time trying to negotiate”, was aware of the latest olive branch.

Mr Tillerson added: “I will continue diplomatic efforts until the first bomb drops.”

North Korea, meanwhile, showed little sign of reining in its weapons programme. In a speech to workers behind the recent long-range missile test, Mr Kim declared his country “will victoriously advance and leap as the strongest nuclear power in the world”.

♦ Charles Jenkins, a US Army deserter to North Korea who married a Japanese abductee, has died aged 77. Jenkins disappeared in 1965 while patrolling the border. He came to Japan in 2004 to be with Hitomi Soga, his wife, who was kidnapped in 1978.