A US envoy called for dialogue with North Korea again on Monday, insisting that the country has no hostile intent, following an escalation of tensions.
Sung Kim, the United States’ special representative for North Korea, met in Washington with his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, ahead of a trialogue meeting on Tuesday that will include senior Japanese official Takehiro Funakoshi.
"We will seek diplomatic channels with DPRK to increase the security of the United States and our allies"said Kim, referring to North Korea by its official English name.
"We have no hostile intention towards DPRK and we hope to meet them soon without conditions", clarified reporters.
But he added that the allies have "a responsibility to implement UN Security Council resolutions", in reference to the sanctions that North Korea hopes to see lifted.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week blamed the United States for the sanctions and rejected Washington’s claims that it has no hostile intentions.
North Korea recently tested a long-range cruise missile, launched from a train and featuring a supersonic warhead, according to Pyongyang.
Kim met three times with former President Donald Trump, who boasted that he prevented a war, but failed to reach a comprehensive agreement to end North Korea’s nuclear program.
President Joe Biden promised to continue betting through diplomatic channels, but with a more discreet approach looking for areas of progress.
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