US will force North Korea to come to table

Washington: The US on Thursday vowed to step up economic sanctions to force North Korea to resume talks over its nuclear programme, underlining that its past efforts had failed to halt Pyongyang’s “unlawful” weapons programmes.

Briefing senators at the White House, top Trump administration officials said President Trump wanted to use diplomatic measures and tighten sanctions to pressure Kim Jong-un’s regime.

The senators earlier were ferried in a bus from the US capitol to the White House for an unusual detailed briefing from the Trump administration officials on the current situation in North Korea.

President Donald Trump himself dropped by at the briefing, which was addressed by his top national security aides — secretary of state Rex Tillerson, defence secretary James Mattis, director of national intelligence Dan Coats and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Joe Dunford.

“Past efforts have failed to halt North Korea’s unlawful weapons programmes and nuclear and ballistic missile tests. With each provocation, North Korea jeopardises stability in Northeast Asia and poses a growing threat to our allies and the US homeland,” the three top officials — Mr Tillerson, Mr Mattis and Mr Coats – said in a joint statement after the meeting.

North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons was an urgent national security threat and the top foreign policy priority, they said, adding that upon assuming office, Mr Trump ordered a thorough review of US policy pertaining to the North Korea.

“The President’s approach aims to pressure North Korea into dismantling its nuclear, ballistic missile, and proliferation programmes by tightening economic sanctions and pursuing diplomatic measures with our allies and regional partners,” the statement said.

It said the Trump administration was engaging responsible members of the international community to increase pressure on North Korea in order to convince the regime to de-escalate and return to the path of dialogue.

“We will maintain our close coordination and cooperation with our allies, especially the Republic of Korea and Japan, as we work together to preserve stability and prosperity in the region.”

“The United States seeks stability and the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. We remain open to negotiations towards that goal. However, we remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies,” the three top Trump administration officials said in a statement.