US Ambassador to S. Korea: denuclearization is “top priority”

Posted on : 2016-03-14 17:53 KST Modified on : 2016-03-14 17:53 KST
Mark Lippert says Washington still seeking “credible and authentic negotiations” with North Korea
US Ambassador Mark Lippert responds to questions from reporters covering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during an interview at his residence in Seoul
US Ambassador Mark Lippert responds to questions from reporters covering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during an interview at his residence in Seoul

The US ambassador to South Korea reiterated Washington‘s standard position that denuclearization is the “number one priority” of its North Korea policy and that its stance on a peace regime “remains unchanged” during a Mar. 11 talk with Ministry of Foreign Affairs reporters at his residence.

Ambassador Mark Lippert also repeatedly stressed the US’s ongoing commitment to a diplomatic solution to the issue.

While the remarks echoed an embassy press release three days earlier stressing that denuclearization was the top priority and that South Korea and the US were in “firm agreement” on a response to the North Korean threat, they also included references to Washington‘s commitment to a diplomatic solution that were present in the earlier statement.

Lippert’s remarks come amid rife speculation about the US‘s intentions after both Secretary of State John Kerry and State Department spokesperson John Kirby declined to rule out China’s proposed parallel approach of pursuing denuclearization and peace agreement discussions.

First and foremost, Lippert made it clear that the US and the rest of the international community were working to implement powerful and unprecedented sanctions against Pyongyang. But he also echoed Kerry’s earlier remarks in saying that sanctions were a means rather than an end, saying, speaking of the US’s interest in “credible and authentic negotiations” to lead to “the verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”

While stressing that Washington was “continu[ing] to talk” with China and planned to discuss a resumption of the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, Lippert also said, “In the immediate term, the focus is on strong implementation of the sanctions and making sure the sanctions are as effective as possible to drive the North Koreans back to the negotiating table.”

He went on to say that the US would continue with its current strategy until Pyongyang shows itself willing to return to talks. When asked whether a recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution sanctioning North Korea was devised with a regime collapse in Pyongyang in mind, Lippert stressed that US policy was not made with a regime change in mind.

Regarding a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue, Lippert made it clear that the decision on whether to proceed with negotiations or dialogue hinges on the Kim Jong-un regime in Pyongyang. He also urged the North Korean leadership to consider the examples of the Barack Obama administration‘s recent success in using diplomacy to address complex issues with Iran, Cuba, and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, South Korean Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Hong-kyun continued to send a slightly different message that emphasized sanctions during a US visit.

“We need to be focusing on thorough implementation of the sanctions. It is too early to be talking about dialogue,” Kim stressed.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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