The european union is in the middle of discussions with South Korea and China regarding the part they may play in order to be a negotiator in dialogues with North Korea about their nuclear program. United States is, on the other hand, pressured to freeze the missile tests in North Korea.

The European Union decided to take part in the efforts of ending the nuclear program of North Korea as their officials, together with those from South Korea and China, believe sanctions are not enough to persuade the Kim Jong Un-led country to stop their nuclear tests.

The meetings took place in Brussels and Beijing and the European Union officials were tapped to fill the negotiator role due to their experience in helping with the 2015 negotiations with Iran regarding their own nuclear program. If the role is finalized, Washington and European Union member states should approve of it.

United States pressured to freeze NK missile tests after Otto Warmbier’s death

The United States is now under more pressure to freeze the missile tests conducted by North Korea after Otto Warmbier, the student who was imprisoned in the other half of South Korea for more than a year. He died due to severe brain injury.

Accordingly, the Trump administration should reduce the military footprint in the Korean peninsula before North Korea possibly agrees to having a temporary freeze on their nuclear and missile tests.

White House officials said they are not interested if the proposal would include military footprint reduced in the Korean peninsula.

North Korea’s ambassador to India, Kye Chun-yong, said in a statement on Wednesday they would consider the temporary freeze for their nuclear and ballistic missile tests if both U.S. and South Korea would stop their annual joint military exercises.

Kye added, “Let’s talk about how to solve the Korean issue peacefully.”

American officials said agreeing to decrease military presence in the Korean peninsula in order to freeze their nuclear and ballistic tests did not work out during the previous instances U.S. agreed with the proposal. In 1994, Bill Clinton implemented the freeze but North Korea disregarded it.

Former President George W. Bush also implemented two freezes but the second freeze was not followed shortly after President Barack Obama took office. The Obama administration pushed for many sanctions against North Korea in the past years.