Envoy Says U.S. Ready For Talks With North Korea Anytime

Despite recent North Korean threats, the US has reiterated its offer of dialogue with the Asian dictatorship, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: U.S. Ambassador to North Korea, Sung Kim

"I continue to stand ready to meet with my North Korean counterparts anywhere, at any time," the US special envoy to North Korea, Sung Kim, said in Seoul on Monday.

Alluding to Pyongyang's criticism of ongoing military exercises by US and South Korean forces, Kim stressed to journalists that his country had no hostile intentions. Among other things, Kim consulted with South Korean nuclear negotiator Noh Kyu Duk on further joint action in the dispute about North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Washington's negotiations with Pyongyang have not progressed since a failed summit between former US President Donald Trump and North Korean strongman the offer. Observers assume that North Korea is waiting for concrete proposals, such as a possible easing of international sanctions.

Most recently, North Korea threatened the US and South Korea with consequences because of their military exercises. Washington and Seoul dispute Pyongyang's regular accusation that the joint maneuvers serve to prepare for an attack.

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