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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.
