The United States has again urged North Korea to act on its denuclearization commitments.
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters Thursday that the U.S. has definite views on the actions North Korean leaders should take in regards to denuclearization, and that those don’t change based on the events of this week.
He made the remark after being asked whether Washington will change its approach to Pyongyang following the release of a photo of Kim Jong-il’s third son, Jong-un, amid signs that succession in the reclusive state is being expedited.
Asked to comment on North Korea’s Wednesday remark that Pyongyang will strengthen its nuclear deterrent rather than abandon its nuclear ambitions, Crowley said that it comes as no surprise.
He said the U.S. has made it clear that North Korea must denuclearize and that it has related commitments made in 2005. Crowley said that the U.S. hopes the North will abide by those commitments, and that once it does, the U.S. is prepared to respond.