Rex Tillerson, Washington’s top diplomat, said on Thursday that North Korea “need not fear” the United States, as he began a visit to Asia calling for a “new approach” to the rogue nation.
R ex Tillerson, Washington’s top diplomat, said on Thursday that North Korea “need not fear” the United States, as he began a visit to Asia calling for a “new approach” to the rogue nation.
The US Secretary of State said previous diplomatic efforts to rein in the north had failed, but offered no fresh ideas on how to deal with Pyongyang, which is alarming the world with its nuclear ambitions.
China said it would welcome fresh ideas on dealing with simmering tensions in North-east Asia, while a North Korean official in Beijing warned that the US and South Korea were taking the region to the “brink of nuclear war”.
Mr Tillerson made his comments after he met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. “North Korea and its people need not fear the United States or their neighbours in the region who seek only to live in peace with North Korea,” he said.
“With this in mind, the United States calls on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and refrain from any further provocation.
