North Korea has to come to the table to talk with President Donald Trump to make a change of direction, says US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
Mr Tillerson spoke at the 2017 Atlantic Council-Korea Foundation Forum in Washington on Tuesday and said the US is “ready to talk anytime North Korea like to talk”.
He said: “We need the DPRK to come to the table, we are ready to talk anytime they like to talk.
“But they have to come to the table and they have to come to the table with the view that they are going to make a different choice.”
Mr Tillerson stressed the importance of the continuing relationship between the US, South Korea and Japan and on the shared aim with China to denuclearise the rogue state.
He said: “Our policy is very clear and that is the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. it is a policy that is shared within the region, in fact that is China’s policy as well and Russia has stated it is also its policy.
“The importance of the success of all this is the very strong relationship that exists between the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan.”
He added: “This is the basis for the security and the structure of the region and it is one that we continue to have in place and continue to exercise together so that we are ready for any possible military response that might be required.”
He warned North Korea latest intercontinental missile test demonstrated they have the capability to advance their programme and that it can be expected of them to do the same in other elements on the integrated nuclear system.
The Korean Central News Agency revealed on Tuesday that Kim Jong-un called on workers to up efforts to improve its nuclear arsenal.
Kim Jong-un asked workers to make “more of the latest weapons and equipment” and to “booster up the nuclear force in quality and quantity”.
Mr Tillerson said: “In the meantime our military preparedness is strong. Because of the situation, President Donal Trump has ordered our military planners to have all range of contingencies available and they are ready.
“As I’ve told people many times, I will continue our diplomatic efforts until the first bomb drops.”