Defense Secretary James Mattis said Tuesday that the U. S. « is probing for opportunities to talk with » North Korea but insisted there are no actual talks.
Defense Secretary James Mattis was pressed Tuesday to explain President Donald Trump’s recent spate of tweets that appeared to reject a diplomatic solution on North Korea.
It followed the Defense secretary’s opening remarks to a Senate panel that the Pentagon « supports fully » Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s ongoing « efforts to find a diplomatic solution [to the North Korean threat] but remains focused on defense of the United States and our allies. »
Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Mattis’ comments about the DOD supporting diplomatic efforts toward Pyongyang « does not seem to be translated to the president. » Reed said Trump « has in several tweets suggested that Secretary Tillerson’s opening of [diplomatic] channels and preparing to discuss issues, directly and indirectly, is essentially a waste of time. »
Reed asked Mattis, « How do you respond to those types of [tweets]. On one hand, you strongly support him (Tillerson), and on the other hand… the president is telling him to knock it off. »
Mattis responded that the president’s guidance to both him and Tillerson « has been very clearly that we would pursue the diplomatic effort, » which the retired Marine Corps four-star general said includes various initiatives with China along with economic sanctions aimed at the rogue regime in Pyongyang
Mattis termed the current approach to nuclear-armed North Korea « a dynamic balance as we try to go forward with a solution. » Yet he also said the U. S. needs to « ensure we have military options. »
The Defense secretary said he believes Tillerson accurately stated that the U. S. « is probing for opportunities to talk with the North. All we’re doing is probing; we’re not talking with them.
