The US special representative for North Korea said that the United States will not accept a phased denuclearization by Pyongyang and maintained that the two nations remain closely engaged despite the collapse of the Hanoi summit in late February.
« We’re just not there on denuclearization, and that was the issue at the summit that really challenged us to move forward with a more complete agreement, » Biegun said.
Biegun said the administration’s unanimous position was to not accept incremental denuclearization from the North Koreans and denied the US had hardened its position during negotiations in Hanoi.
« There’s absolutely been no difference or distinction in the US policy on denuclearization, » he noted.
However, comments from the special representative prior to the summit seemed to suggest otherwise. Speaking in late January at Stanford University, Biegun denied that the US policy was « you do everything first and then we’ll begin to think about whether or not we’re going to do anything in response. »
« That is not our policy and has not been our policy.
