03 August,2017 10:50 AM IST | New York | Agencies
Washington is willing to initiate a dialogue only if Pyongyang relinquishes its nuclear pursuit
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was not seeking a regime change in North Korea, but rather willing to initiate a dialogue only if Pyongyang relinquished its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
"We do not seek regime change. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the Korean peninsula. We do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel (that divides North and South Korea)," Tillerson was quoted as saying during a press briefing on Tuesday.
But he emphasised that the danger posed by Pyongyang, which test-fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, was unacceptable as that forced Washington to respond. Tillerson, however, expressed hope that Washington and Pyongyang could resolve their issues through negotiations.
"We would like to sit and have a dialogue with them about the future that will give them the security they seek and the future economic prosperity, Tillerson said, adding, "...Our other options are not attractive."
