The U.S. government has repeatedly urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations and return to diplomacy in relation to its recent cruise missile launch.
In response to an inquiry from News 1 on the 24th (local time), a U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson said, “We understand the threat posed by North Korea’s military programs, our commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan, and our commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.” “We have made it very clear,” he said.
“We are monitoring these activities and we will continue to work with the governments of South Korea and Japan to address the threat posed by North Korea,” the Pentagon spokesperson continued.
“We repeatedly urge North Korea to refrain from further provocative and destabilizing actions and return to diplomacy,” Vedant Patel, a senior deputy spokesperson at the State Department, said in response to a related question at the briefing.
He emphasized, “We have been very clear that we have no hostile intentions toward North Korea and that we remain open to diplomacy without preconditions.”
“This is also a way for us to continue to consult closely with South Korea, Japan, and other allies and partners on how best to engage North Korea and deter its aggressive and destabilizing behavior,” he said. He mentioned the Camp David summit, etc.
Regarding North Korea’s refusal to engage in dialogue with the United States and South Korea, he said, “Our goals remain unchanged,” adding that we are pursuing not only military risk management, but also a plan to establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and our continued goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. “I am eager to have substantive discussions seeking to address this issue,” he said.
He said, “We once again state that we are willing to continue dialogue with North Korea on these issues without preconditions.”
When asked about North Korea’s demolition of monuments related to inter-Korean relations, senior deputy spokesman Patel responded, “We believe such activities are destabilizing, adventurous, and extremely dangerous.”
“We stand ready to engage with North Korea on a number of important issues, while we will continue to work closely with South Korea and Japan on ways to deter North Korea and strengthen our alliances in the region,” he said. added.
According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched several cruise missiles into the West Sea around 7 a.m. on the 24th.
(Washington = News 1)
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.