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Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 16:24
Tillerson signals DPRK talks, no Trump backing seen
By Xinhua
Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 16:24 By Xinhua

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during the 24th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) at the Hofburg palace in Vienna on Dec 7, 2017. (RONALD ZAK / POOL / AFP)

WASHINGTON/PYONGYANG – US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that Washington is willing to talk with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "without precondition," a rhetoric seemingly not fully supported by US President Donald Trump.

"We're ready to have the first meeting without precondition," Tillerson said at a policy forum at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, Tuesday afternoon, signaling a new diplomatic opening for dialogue with Pyongyang.

Hours later, DPRK top leader, Kim Jong-un, called for strengthening his country's nuclear force, official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

ALSO READ: UN envoy says DPRK would not commit to talks but 'door ajar'

In a speech delivered at the two-day 8th Conference of Munitions Industry, which ended on Tuesday, Kim “expressed his belief that the scientists of the national defense industry and workers of munitions would bolster up the nuclear force in quality and quantity" as well as manufacture more latest weapons and equipment of the DPRK style, said KCNA.

Kim was also “indicating the orientation of further glorifying the country as the world's strongest nuclear power and military power," as well as to developing an "ultra-modern self-supporting defense industry in the 21st century," the report added.

Meanwhile, the presidential Blue House of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Wednesday that Tillerson's remarks re-emphasized the US position to encourage the DPRK to return to a dialogue table.

Can we at least sit down and see each other face to face, and then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map, of what we might be willing to work towards?

Rex Tillerson, US Secretary of State

The ROK and the US have opened a door to dialogue with Pyongyang, presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said in a statement, urging Pyongyang to return to dialogue.

The developments came amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula over Pyongyang’s nuclear programs.

Addressing the Atlantic Council forum Tuesday, Tillerson told an audience of around 300 that the dialogue is possible whenever Pyongyang is ready.

"Let's just meet," he said. "We can talk about the weather if you want. We can talk about whether it's going to be a square table or a round table."

"Can we at least sit down and see each other face to face, and then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map, of what we might be willing to work towards?" said the top US diplomat, suggesting some initial contacts to set the ground rules for further negotiations.

READ MORE: DPRK says US threats make war inevitable

However, responding to Tillerson's remarks which differed from the Trump administration’s harsh tone, the White House said there was no policy change regarding the DPRK.

"The President's views on North Korea have not changed," said the White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement released hours after Tillerson's speech.

The DPRK is also referred to as North Korea. 

This image made from video of a news bulletin aired by DPRK's KRT on Nov 29, 2017, shows DPRK's leader Kim Jong-un signing what is said to be a document on Nov 28, 2017, authorizing a missile test. (KRT VIA AP VIDEO)

Accusing Pyongyang of acting "in an unsafe way," Sanders said its actions "are not good for anyone."

It was not the first time that Trump and Tillerson found themselves not on the same track over the Korean Peninsula issue.

Trump undercut his secretary of state two months ago, when the latter was trying to reach out to Pyongyang to start a dialogue. "Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!" Trump tweeted in October.

Tuesday's remarks showed Tillerson's latest effort of seeking a peaceful solution amid escalating tension on the peninsula since the DPRK sped up on its nuclear program development this year.

Tillerson's remarks came two weeks after the DPRK successfully test-fired a newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), drawing strong condemnation from the international community.

Washington and Pyongyang has been exchanging harsh rhetoric in the past months, with Trump threatening to rain down "fire and fury" and "totally destroy" the country.

Before Tillerson's speech, the US insisted that negotiations should be based on the DPRK's nuclear disarmament.

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