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[webfact]

U.S.'s Tillerson, in new overture to North Korea, says ready to talk without pre-conditions

By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the U.S.-Korea relationship during a forum at the Atlantic Council in Washington, U.S. December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered on Tuesday to begin talks with North Korea without pre-conditions, appearing to back away from U.S. demands that Pyongyang must first accept that any negotiations would have to be based on North Korean nuclear disarmament.

 

"Let's just meet," Tillerson said in a speech to Washington think tank the Atlantic Council, presenting a new diplomatic overture amid heightened tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile advances and harsh rhetoric between the two sides.

 

Tensions have flared anew since North Korea said it had successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile last month in what it called a "breakthrough" that put the U.S. mainland within range.

 

While reiterating Washington's long-standing position that it cannot tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea, Tillerson said the United States was "ready to talk any time they're ready to talk", but that Pyongyang must come to the table willing to make choices to change its course.

"We can talk about the weather if you want. We can talk about whether it’s going to be a square table or a round table," he said.

 

"Then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map, of what we might be willing to work towards," Tillerson said, suggesting that any initial contacts would be about setting the ground rules for formal negotiations.

 

It was not immediately clear whether Tillerson, whose influence has appeared to wane within the administration, had President Donald Trump's full support to seek such a diplomatic opening.

 

Tillerson has previously expressed a desire to use diplomatic channels with Pyongyang, but Trump tweeted in October that such engagement would be a waste of time.

 

North Korea, for its part, has made clear that it has little interest in negotiations with the United States until it has developed the ability to hit the U.S. mainland with a nuclear-tipped missile, something most experts say it has still not achieved.

 

"We're ready to have the first meeting without pre-conditions," Tillerson said at the Atlantic Council.

 

"It’s not realistic to say we’re only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your program," he said. "They have too much invested in it. The president is very realistic about that as well."

 

Tillerson also said that the United States was working to tighten enforcement of international sanctions against North Korea, especially further measures that China can apply, and that Washington had a full menu of military options if such a response is needed.

 

He said the United States has had conversations with China about how North Korean nuclear weapons might be secured in a crisis and has assured Beijing that if U.S. forces had to cross into North Korea they would return to South Korea.

 

But he made clear that the United States wants to resolve the North Korea standoff through peaceful diplomacy.

 

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom in Washington; editing by Clive McKeef)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-13

[quadperfect]

I bet tillerson is about to leave the house.

There can be no good from all this. Life will be lost in every scenerio.

Now or later . But later means kim will have no food but thousands of nukes.

He will war. 

Probobly take over japan first just to rub it in the usa face.

[rudi49jr]

3 minutes ago, quadperfect said:

I bet tillerson is about to leave the house.

There can be no good from all this. Life will be lost in every scenerio.

Now or later . But later means kim will have no food but thousands of nukes.

He will war. 

Probobly take over japan first just to rub it in the usa face.

I don't think Kim would be that stupid, he's just playing mind games and trying to look strong. Tillerson can say whatever he wants, but he's about to be axed and his boss in the WH is gunning for war, no matter what, anything to take the attention away from Mueller's investigation.

[smotherb]

Well, don't overestimate the Waffler-in-Chief. He says one thing, then does another; then, he denies he said it or that he did it. He wants to believe his sword rattling will scare KJU; then, fears it will not. He tells Tillerson to give-up on negotiations; then approves them. He says no way will we negotiate without NK giving up is arms; then he says we will.

 

https://www.google.co.th/search?q=first+you+say+you+will+and+then+you+won't&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab&gws_rd=cr&dcr=0&ei=u7owWtbiHIzTvASyy7iYAw

 

I see Trump as lost; he has always been able to bluster his way through life and pay others to back away. Look how many law suits he has admittedly settled and how many lawsuits have just gone away. His defense strategy on the Russian investigations seem to be denial, then subterfuge, then the little boys' excuses, "Look over there" or "They did it too," as if somehow that would exonerate him.

Edited December 13, 2017 by smotherb

[Morch]

3 hours ago, quadperfect said:

I bet tillerson is about to leave the house.

There can be no good from all this. Life will be lost in every scenerio.

Now or later . But later means kim will have no food but thousands of nukes.

He will war. 

Probobly take over japan first just to rub it in the usa face.

 

Life will be lost in every scenario? Even in one (unlikely, yes) were an agreement is achieved?

North Korea faced food shortages and famine in the past - was there a war started as a result?

North Korea taking over Japan? Just how? Using their mighty fleet? Their formidable air force? Or just strap invading troops to missiles and hope for the best?

[Krataiboy]

Attaboy!  Sounds like we've actually got a diplomat here who understands that saving the world is more important than saving face.

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

"We're ready to have the first meeting without pre-conditions,"

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

but that Pyongyang must come to the table willing to make choices to change its course.

Isn't that a pre-condition?

Will the US tell North Korea what choices it's willing to make to change its own course? Like pulling its military forces out of South Korea?

There has to be quid pro quo to begin talks, even about the weather.

Jung-On might instead interpret Tillerson's offer as a step towards greater concessions because of North Korea's advancing nuclear missile program. Why stop?

[Srikcir]

And now as some warned:

Despite Tillerson overture, White House says not right time for North Korea talks. No negotiations can be held with North Korea until it improves its behavior.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/13/despite-tillerson-overture-white-house-says-not-right-time-for-north-korea-talks/23306593/

That's a "pre-condition." There's no talks unless you behave like we require.