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Monday, October 02, 2017, 14:17
Trump says envoy 'wasting his time' talking to DPRK
By Associated Press
Monday, October 02, 2017, 14:17 By Associated Press

This combination of pictures created on October 1, 2017 shows, US President Donald Trump at Morristown, New Jersey, Municipal Airport on Sept 15, 2017; and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un waving following a military parade in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017. (PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN, ED JONES / AFP)

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its nuclear and missile programs, raising speculation about whether Trump could be undermining efforts to maintain channels of communication or somehow bolstering the diplomat's hand in possible future talks.

READ MORE: US sees no indication of denuclearization talks with DPRK

It was not immediately clear what prompted Trump's tweets, among a series of weekend posts that ranged from hurricane recovery efforts in Puerto Rico to NFL players' allegiance to the national anthem, and at whom they were aimed: Tillerson, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, those pushing for continued diplomacy, those favoring a military response to repeated provocations.

Trump's latest tweet has raised speculation about whether the US president could be undermining efforts to maintain channels of communication or somehow bolstering the diplomat's hand in possible future talks

Tillerson had acknowledged on Saturday, after meetings in Beijing with Chinese leaders, that the Trump administration was keeping open direct channels of communications with DPRK and probing Pyongyang's willingness to talk.

He provided no elaboration about those channels or the substance of any discussions. After he left China, his spokeswoman issued a statement saying that DPRK officials "have shown no indication that they are interested in or are ready for talks regarding denuclearization."

And then Trump weighed in the next day with tweets that included his usual personal dig at Kim.

"I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man ... Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!"

Trump offered no further explanation, but last month he told the UN General Assembly that if the US is "forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." DPRK is also referred to as North Korea.

Later, after Trump arrived at an international golf competition at a northern New Jersey course, a new tweet appeared: "Being nice to Rocket Man hasn't worked in 25 years, why would it work now? Clinton failed, Bush failed, and Obama failed. I won't fail."

To a senior Tillerson adviser, there was no ambiguity in Trump's earlier posts.

"The President just sent a clear message to NK: show up at the diplomatic table before the invitation gets cold," R.C. Hammond tweeted. "Message to Rex? Try message to Pyongyang: Step up to the diplomatic table."

US-DPRK communications are long-standing. They include the two nations' UN missions, regular exchanges between senior diplomats, and unofficial discussions between DPRK officials and former US officials. Diplomats say there have been no new channels established recently, or any dramatic shift in Trump administration policy.

DPRK has in recent months tested long-range missiles that potentially could reach the US, and on Sept. 3 conducted its largest nuclear test explosion to date. The standoff has entered a new, tense phase since then as Kim and Trump have exchanged personal insults and threats of war.
ALSO READ: ROK says in close cooperation with US on talks with DPRK


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