Washington has declared that the time to expect North Korea to change voluntarily is over.
 
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a regular media briefing on Tuesday that North Korea has been a “front-burner” issue and added the time for waiting on the North to do the right thing has long passed.
 
He said the U.S. needs to move more quickly and with greater determination to convince Pyongyang to either pursue denuclearization or apply enough pressure so it stop its activities.
 
The spokesman said the U.S. will exert pressure on the North through diplomatic and economic measures and although it hopes not, through military options if necessary.
 
Toner said U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson will point out the lack of efforts by countries to implement the UN sanctions on the North when he chairs a UN Security Council meeting on Friday. 

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