Trump administration scotches suggestion of talks with North Korea
By
Peter Symonds
14 December 2017
The White House has quickly undercut suggestions by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday that Washington was willing to start talks with North Korea without preconditions. The latest differences emerge amid growing signs that the Trump administration is preparing to wage war against the Pyongyang regime in the coming months unless it capitulates completely to US demands.
Tillerson’s remarks to the Atlantic Council appear to be a last ditch attempt to start talks to try to prevent a conflict that could spiral out of control. “It is not realistic to say we’re only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your [nuclear] program,” he said, contradicting the more aggressive stance taken by Trump.
With a note of desperation, Tillerson continued: “We’re ready to have the first meeting without preconditions. Let’s just meet. We can talk about weather if you want. We can talk about whether there is gonna be a square table or a round table if that’s what you’re excited about. But can we at least sit down and see each other face to face.”
North Korea, however, is well aware that the US demands remain—to scrap its limited nuclear arsenal and abandon all related nuclear and missile programs. Moreover, such a step would involve an ever-more intrusive inspection prying into all aspects of its military and security apparatus.
Tillerson’s assurances that the US is not looking for a pretext to attack North Korea and not seeking regime-change in Pyongyang are belied by Trump’s threats to “totally destroy” the country. North Korea has hinted that it would be willing to take part in negotiations, but as they have not been forthcoming,…