US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated that Washington is ready to dialogue with Pyongyang if only it could discontinue its nuclear weapons program.
He maintained that the US was not asking for regime change in North Korea or intends to deploy its military in the 38th parallel north which separates South and North Korea. While speaking at the Department of State press conference stressed that the threat posed by Pyongyang’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile was not acceptable.
US willingness to dialogue
The Obama administration was also willing to dialogue if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear weapons program, which was not successful despite efforts to get North Korea to the roundtable.
Tillerson talked about many of the challenges across the world, including the fight against ISIS, the Syrian crisis, the Middle East, Iran and moves to end the eastern Ukraine conflict, which has witnessed several clashes between government forces and rebels backed by Russia.
The Secretary of State restated the administration’s commitment to implement President Trump's “make America great again” campaign slogan.
He maintained that dealing with President Trump’s tweets which have in many instances contradicted his positions on a number of issues was one aspect of his job as Secretary of State.
Good relationship with Trump
The former Exxon Mobil boss maintained that his relationship with Trump was very good.
He added that the President calls him late at night and on the weekends and that he always expresses his views openly to him which made him feel quite comfortable.
He further said that though they have some differences which include the Iran nuclear agreement, it was those differences that he is serving him, Tillerson said.
The Secretary of state focused on the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran, adding that it involves only a fragment of the issues confronting the US.
In July, President Trump reluctantly admitted that Iran is complying with the pact to an extent, however, the Trump administration has been showing a sign that it might not continue with the agreement concluded along with the UK, China, Germany, France, and Russia during the Obama administration.
Tillerson said the former head of Central Command will be visiting the Middle East to resolve the rift between the US allies in the Gulf. The standoff in the Gulf severed ties between the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt with Qatar.
