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Tillerson calls on North Korea to engage in US talks NEWS / NORTH KOREA  United States North Korea China South Korea Asia Pacific
Tillerson has been accused of 'wasting his time' in trying to negotiate with North Korea by US President Donald Trump [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that the United States is willing to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without "precondition". Tillerson, speaking on Tuesday at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, stated the US "cannot accept" a nuclear-armed North Korea but called on the two countries to begin a dialogue. "We're ready to talk anytime North Korea would like to talk, and we're ready to have the first meeting without precondition," he said. "It's not realistic to say we're only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your [nuclear weapons] programme." Tillerson added that North Korea has "too much invested" in their nuclear weapons programme and said US President Donald Trump is "realistic about that". Following the secretary of state's speech, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders reiterated that Trump's views on North Korea remain unchanged. "North Korea is acting in an unsafe way ... North Korea's actions are not good for anyone and certainly not good for North Korea," she added in a statement to reporters. Trump has been openly sceptical of diplomatic efforts to engage with Kim in recent months, saying on Twitter on October 1 that Tillerson was "wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man (Kim Jong-Un)." Trump threatened to impose " major sanctions " on North Korea after the communist country test-launched its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile yet on November 29. The missile reached an altitude of 4,500km, with analysts estimating it could fly a distance of 13,000km - potentially giving North Korea the ability to strike any part of continental United States with its nuclear weapons. Trump - who has previously threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea - tweeted his displeasure after a phone call with President Xi Jinping of China, Pyongyang's increasingly perturbed, main ally. Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled! 3:40 PM - Nov 29, 2017 15,633 20,849 101,806 Donald J. Trump

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