The United States special representative for North Korea on Monday (June 21) in Seoul offered to meet with representatives from Pyongyang "
anywhere, anytime, without preconditions
."
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Sung Kim's offer comes three days after a statement by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who said his country should prepare as much "
for dialogue as for confrontation
" with the United States. It was the first reaction coming from Pyongyang to the approach with the North which the new American president Joe Biden intends to adopt.
The American administration has already committed to adopting a "
practical and appropriate approach
", in particular on a diplomatic level, in order in particular to convince the North to give up its nuclear and ballistic programs.
"
We continue to hope that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) responds favorably to our outreach efforts and our proposal to meet anywhere and anytime, without preconditions,
" said US envoy Sung. Kim on a five-day visit to Washington ally South Korea, referring to the North by its official name.
"
A tense food situation
"
Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un admitted his country was in a "
tense food situation
". State broadcaster KCTV said on Sunday that the North Korean leader and senior officials are considering "
emergency measures
" to address the "
current food crisis
" in the country. The North, whose economy is plagued by multiple international sanctions imposed in response to its banned military programs, has long been plagued by severe food shortages.
Last year, North Korea was one of the first countries to impose strict health restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including the decision, very early on, to close its borders and in particular with its Chinese neighbor. The regime maintains that the epidemic did not arrive on its soil, which many experts doubt. Trade with Beijing, the regime's first economic and diplomatic support, has been reduced to heartache.
On Monday, the US special envoy urged members of the United Nations Security Council - of which China is a member - to strictly apply the resolutions against Pyongyang, intended to limit North Korean imports of oil and in particular its exports of oil. coal, textiles and fish. "
We also urge UN member states, especially members of the UN Security Council, to do the same to address the DPRK threat to the international community
," he said. declared.
