NORTH KOREA: MILITARY ACTION AN OPTION IF DIALOGUE FAILS – TILLERSON

WASHINGTON, United States – The United States of America will consider military action against North Korea if dialogue fails, Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson has said.

“If our diplomatic efforts fail, though, our military option will be the only one left. And so all of this is backed up by a very strong and resolute military option, but be clear: we seek a peaceful solution to this”, he said.

He said the policy of the United States towards North Korea is to deny North Korea possession of a nuclear weapon and the ability to deliver that weapon.

“Our strategy has been to undertake this peaceful pressure campaign, enabled by the four nos, the four nos being that we do not seek regime change, we do not seek a regime collapse, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, and we do not seek a reason to send our forces north of the Demilitarized Zone”, he said but that the U.S is waiting for North Korea to give some indication that they’re prepared to have constructive, productive talks.

“We have tried a couple of times to signal to them that we’re ready when they’re ready, and they have responded with more missile launches and a nuclear test. All they need to do to let us know they’re ready to talk is to just stop these tests, stop these provocative actions, and let’s lower the threat level and the rhetoric”, he said.