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The United States has indicated that it is willing to engage in talks with North Korea — although, given President Donald Trump’s penchant for throwing a wrench into bilateral talks with that country, it remains to be seen if anything will materialize from this strategic shift.
Instead of demanding that North Korea put itself on a path toward denuclearization before engaging in talks, the United States has instead worked with South Korea in demonstrating a willingness to talk with the Kim Jong Un regime, according to The Wall Street Journal. The solidarity between the United States and South Korea on this approach was reinforced during a meeting between Vice President Mike Pence and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Winter Olympics. As Pence later explained, their approach was one of “maximum pressure and engagement at the same time” toward the wayward North Korean government.
“We really need to have some discussions that precede any formal negotiations to determine whether the parties are in fact ready to engage in something meaningful,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson explained while visiting the Egyptian city of Cairo.
