N. Korea not ready for talks with US – Haley

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - North Korea postponed talks with the United States on Thursday “because they weren’t ready,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said as she urged Pyongyang to take action to implement a June deal between the countries.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a closed-door UN Security Council meeting on North Korea sanctions, Haley said the United States had already acted and “now it’s North Korea’s turn.”

“There’s no time to stall or no time to delay or try and get past not going through with what was agreed in Singapore,” said Haley, who will step down at the end of the year.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had been due to meet North Korean officials in New York on Thursday, but the State Department said on Wednesday it would be postponed to a later date. It gave no reason for the delay.

The North Korean mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment.

Describing the relationship between Washington and Pyongyang as “cordial,” Haley said she did not think there was a “major issue” and she believed the talks would be rescheduled.

The UN Security Council met to discuss sanctions on North Korea on Thursday at the request of Russia. Haley has accused Russia of cheating on UN sanctions on North Korea.