Emphasizing that it can defend any kind of threat, the US yesterday said that it is ready to sit down with North Korea to negotiate but on the condition that Pyongyang must change its “current course”.
“We unequivocally reaffirm that the US is committed to the defence of our homeland and our allies. Recently, North Korean officials have made some highly provocative statements. North Korea’s claims may be hyperbolic, but as to the policy of the US, there should be no doubt: we will draw upon the full range of our capabilities to protect against, and to respond to, the threat posed to us and to our allies by North Korea,” National Security Adviser to the US President Tom Donilon, said.
“This includes not only any North Korean use of weapons of mass destruction but also, as the President made clear, their transfer of nuclear weapons or nuclear materials to other states or non-state entities,” he said.
“Such actions would be considered a grave threat to the US and our allies and we will hold North Korea fully accountable for the consequences,” Donilon said in his address to the Asia Society in New York.
The US, he said, will continue to encourage North Korea to choose a better path.
“As he has said many times, President (Barack) Obama came to office willing to offer his hand to those who would unclench their fists. The US is prepared to help North Korea develop its economy and feed its people, but it must change its current course,” Donilon said.
“The US is prepared to sit down with North Korea to negotiate and to implement the commitments that they and the US have made. We ask only that Pyongyang prove its seriousness by taking meaningful steps to show it will abide by its commitments, honour its words, and respect international law,” he said.
In Washington, the White House expressed concern over the recent North Korean “bellicose rhetoric and threats”, and said that such a move would further isolate the Pyongyang regime.
“We are certainly concerned by North Korea’s bellicose rhetoric and the threats that they have been making follow a pattern designed to raise tension and intimidate others,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.