‘We’re not your enemy’

> US not seeking to topple Pyongyang regime: Tillerson

WASHINGTON: Secretary of state Rex Tillerson ( pix) promised on Tuesday the US is not trying to topple Kim Jong-un’s regime, but insisted North Korea must halt its nuclear missile programme.

Briefing reporters on diplomatic efforts to pressure Pyongyang, Tillerson said Washington would be willing to talk to the North if its leaders accept that they must disarm.

“We don’t think having a dialogue where the North Koreans come to the table assuming they’re going to maintain their nuclear weapons is productive.”

But he sought to reassure the isolated regime it does not need a nuclear arsenal to defend itself from a US attack.

“We do not seek the collapse of the regime. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula.

“We do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel. And we’re trying to convey that to the North Koreans.

“We are not your enemy. We’re not your threat, but you are presenting an unacceptable threat to us, and we have to respond.”

US President Donald Trump has demanded that China, North Korea’s only ally, rein in its nuclear ambitions – angrily tweeting over the weekend that Beijing is not doing enough. But here too, Tillerson was more diplomatic. “Only the North Koreans are to blame for this situation, but we do believe China has a special and unique relationship ... to influence the North Korean regime in ways that no one else can.” – AFP