North Korea must return to the "
diplomatic channel
", the US envoy for North Korea said on Monday visiting Seoul after an unprecedented series of missile tests by Pyongyang.
Read alsoNorth Korea is testing a new weapon system aimed at improving the effectiveness of “tactical nuclear weapons”
Since the start of the year, North Korea has carried out more than a dozen test launches, including launching a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), for the first time since 2017. This weekend end, North Korea tested a weapon system intended to increase the effectiveness of its nuclear weapons.
Sung Kim, US envoy to North Korea, who arrived Monday for a five-day visit to Seoul, met with his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk.
Following their talks, the two senior officials jointly condemned the “recent escalation of actions by Pyongyang, including what they called 'at least three' ICBM launches.
"
We agreed on the need for a strong response to the destabilizing behavior we have experienced from the DPRK
," Kim told reporters, using the acronym of North Korea's official name.
"
We also discussed how to respond to the DPRK's actions in the future, including a possible nuclear test
," he added.
The special envoy reiterated that Washington has offered to meet with representatives of Pyongyang, at any time and without preconditions, and that Washington “
has not closed the door to diplomacy
”.
"
I once again call on Pyongyang to pursue a diplomatic path with us
," Kim said.
"
I want to make it clear that we have no hostile intentions towards the DPRK
."
So far Pyongyang has rejected talks proposals, accusing Washington of having hostile policies.
The visit comes as Seoul and Washington have begun annual military drills.
They must last nine days.
These joint maneuvers, which still anger Pyongyang, have been reduced in recent years, with outgoing President Moon Jae-in favoring a policy of dialogue with the North.
"
This exercise is defensive command post training using computer simulation, and there is no real military maneuver training
," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Sunday.
The United States has some 28,500 soldiers stationed in the South, to protect the country against its neighbor.
Read alsoKim Jong-un's ballistic stunt
Pyongyang suspended nuclear and long-range missile testing when Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump began high-profile talks, which broke down in 2019. Negotiations have since stalled.
