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The news came just before North Korean Representative Kim Song addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he lamented the division between North Korea and South Korea, and criticized the American presence in the region.
“Inter-Korean relations have never emerged from the shadow of US interference and obstruction,” he said, citing Washington’s close relations with Seoul.
North Korea and South Korea tested ballistic missiles earlier this month, increasing tensions exponentially in what was already one of the most volatile regions on the planet.
Senior North Korean official Kim Yo Jong – sister of leader Kim Jong Un – said last week that North Korea wanted to mend inter-Korean ties and raised the possibility of relocating the joint liaison office, which North Korea destroyed last June.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry praised Kim’s message on the possibility of having “constructive” as “meaningful” discussions. The presidential Blue House has not given an official response.
“Powerful offensive means”
In his speech, Ambassador Kim accused the United States of “upsetting” his country with military exercises in the region, saying Pyongyang would “be ready to respond willingly at any time” to friendly overtures from Washington.
In the meantime, he said, “as the whole world knows and as the United States is so concerned, powerful offensive means are, of course, included in our war deterrent.”
The United States has repeatedly condemned North Korean missile fire. On September 15, State Department spokesman Ned Price called for a diplomatic approach to the issue.
“We call on the DPRK to engage in a meaningful and substantial dialogue with us,” he said.
“We have been very clear on what we want to happen. We are committed to the premise that dialogue will allow us to pursue our ultimate goal and that is simply the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Price said.
“We have no hostile intentions towards the DPRK. We have been very clear about this. What we seek to do is reduce the threat to the United States, to our allies in the region, and that includes the Republic. Korea and Japan, and we think we can do it through diplomacy with the Republic of Korea. “
“We have been very clear publicly and we have been very clear in the messages we have given to the DPRK that we are ready to engage in this dialogue. I refer you to Pyongyang for any reaction they may have, but for our part , we are ready to engage in this dialogue “, he declared.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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