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\nSeoul, South Korea \u2014 The US ambassador to the United Nations visited the heavily-fortified border between North and South Korea Tuesday, urging Pyongyang to return to talks as global enforcement of UN sanctions stumbles.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived in South Korea on Sunday on a trip aimed at keeping up pressure on the nuclear-armed North after Russia last month used its UN veto to effectively end UN monitoring of violations of the raft of sanctions on Kim Jong Un\u2019s regime.
Experts have said the shift was a significant victory for Kim, who has recently ramped up ties with Moscow including, Washington and Seoul have claimed, sending Russia weapons for use in Ukraine.
\u201cThe United States harbours no, no hostile intent towards the DPRK,\u201d Thomas-Greenfield said at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, referring to the North by the acronym of its official name.
\u201cWe have held the doors open for meaningful diplomacy and we remain open to dialogue, real, productive dialogue without preconditions,\u201d she said.
\u201cAll the DPRK (has) to do is say yes and show up to the table,\u201d she added.
Washington and Seoul have condemned Moscow for its move at the United Nations, calling it \u201cirresponsible\u201d.
Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year, with Pyongyang\u2019s leader declaring Moscow ties his country\u2019s \u201cnumber one priority\u201d.
Seoul has since claimed that the North has sent 7,000 containers of arms to Russia.
\u201cThis is clearly a concern of ours,\u201d Thomas-Greenfield said, when asked about North Korea-Russia ties.
\u201cIt is certainly the reason we\u2019re seeing Russia protect the DPRK in the council vetoing the 1718 Panel of Experts resolution, blocking efforts to hold the DPRK accountable for numerous violations of resolutions in the council,\u201d she said.
This year, Kim has declared Washington\u2019s security ally Seoul his country\u2019s \u201cprincipal enemy\u201d, jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over \u201ceven 0.001 mm\u201d of territorial infringement.
Pyongyang has also been making efforts to strengthen ties with its most important ally, Beijing. Last week, it received a visit from China\u2019s third highest-ranking official and called the bilateral relationship an \u201ceternal friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n