Washington has emphasized it will talk with North Korea only when Pyongyang makes certain it will denuclearize.
 
At an event hosted by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies(FDD) in Washington on Thursday, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton clarified the Trump administration’s stance.
 
[Sound bite: Susan Thornton (English)]
“We are looking to see a signal of seriousness on their part that they are willing
to engage in denuclearization which we are interested in.”
 
Thornton said the Trump administration’s recently-introduced North Korea policy directions are only the first step, noting there are other options available to deal with the North’s threats.
 
She said North Korea represents an international security challenge of the "first order" and is the number one national security priority for the U.S., adding that forming an international coalition and using all tools to the maximum effect to create a burst of pressure is the best way to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully. 

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