‘We are PREPARED’ US shock warning to North Korea – military is ready if talks FAIL

knows that communication channels are “open” with the US, Secretary of State for Defence Rex Tillerson said. 

Speaking in a press conference at the United Nations, Mr Tillerson said the US would not “accept any preconditions” for talks with North Korea. 

He said: “The President has been very clear, militarily, we are going to be prepared should something go wrong and our military is prepared.”

Mr Tillerson said that the US did not “accept” previous remarks about a “freeze for freeze” on nuclear programs as a precondition to talks with North Korea. 

He said: “With respect to the talks, we are not going to accept preconditions.

“You hear others who called for freeze for freeze. We do not accept a freeze for freeze as a precondition to talks.

“We do not accept any relaxing of the sanctions regime as a precondition of talks. 

“We do not accept the resumption of humanitarian assistance as a precondition of talks, so we are not going to accept preconditions for these talks but as I indicated in my remarks.”

Mr Tillerson added that US communication channels remain “open” to North Korea when they want to talk. 

He said: “Our communication channels remain open. North Korea knows they are open. They know where the door is. 

“They know where to walk through that door when they want to talk.” 

Mr Tillerson’s comments come as tensions between North Korea and the United States continue to escalate amid rising fears of