U.S. envoy Biegun to North Korea: 'We're here, you know how to reach us'

[webfact]

U.S. envoy Biegun to North Korea: 'We're here, you know how to reach us'

By Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrives at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, December 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, urged Pyongyang on Monday to return offers of talks, dismissing leader Kim Jong Un's year-end deadline while highlighting Washington's willingness to discuss "all issues of interest."

 

Tension has been rising in recent weeks as Pyongyang has conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with U.S. President Donald Trump, stoking fears the two countries could return to a collision course that they had been on before launching diplomacy last year.

 

Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday amid speculation he might try to salvage negotiations by reaching out to North Korea, which has vowed to take an unspecified "new path" if Washington fails to soften its stance before the end of the year.

 

"The United States does not have a deadline. We have a goal," Biegun told a joint news conference with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon.

"Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea. It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us," Biegun said.

 

Biegun said it would be "most unhelpful" if North Korea carries out a major military provocation in the near future.

 

He also expressed regret over a string of statements from North Korean officials in recent weeks, saying the tone of them has been "so hostile and negative and so unnecessary".

 

On Sunday, Pyongyang said it had successfully conducted another test at a satellite launch site aimed at "restraining and overpowering the nuclear threat" of the United States, which experts said could help North Korea build more reliable intercontinental ballistic missiles.

 

"But it does not have to be this way. It is not yet too late," Biegun said.

 

"We have offered any number of creative ways to proceed with feasible steps and flexibility in our negotiations to reach balanced agreements that meet the objectives of both sides."

 

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Jack Kim and Sangmi Cha; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Lincoln Feast.)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-16

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[legend49]

you know how to reach us ; idiot. They will reach you soon the rockets are traveling further with each testing.

[Emdog]

Time to resume joint training exercises with South Korea. Trump gave up some of our defense and got nothing in return.

[sirineou]

Desperate to get "this done" to get anything done, don't care what it is as long as there is a good photo opportunity for trump, and he can claim some short of victory. trump is not working for the USA he is working for trump,

Kim knows trump will be gone soon and he would have to deal with the adults again, he is never giving up his only chance of staying alive.

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea. It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us," Biegun said.

Yep, just send trump a beautiful letter. 

[sammieuk1]

They will end up sending a Biggun if Biegun fails. tell Mr Kim that????

[jany123]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

We have offered any number of creative ways to proceed with feasible steps and flexibility in our negotiations to reach balanced agreements that meet the objectives of both sides."

Meet the objectives of both sides, you say. I say liar liar pants on fire.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Let's get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us

Bieguns bigon arrogance if he’s big on anything. 

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The United States does not have a deadline.

A US failure from the beginning.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He also expressed regret over a string of statements from North Korean officials in recent weeks, saying the tone of them has been "so hostile and negative and so unnecessary".

Outmatching Trump's amateurish and impulsive rhetoric.

Dotard indeed.

[Tug]

Little Kim will be able to (reach) us soon any time he wants!and don’t forget this happened on donalds watch what a fiasco are we tired of winning yet?

[Tug]

3 hours ago, jany123 said:

Meet the objectives of both sides, you say. I say liar liar pants on fire.

Bieguns bigon arrogance if he’s big on anything. 

That’s kinda unfair imo look who the poor guys working for