The top U.S. official on North Korea accused a senior North Korean nuclear negotiator on Wednesday of being 'locked in an old way of thinking,' days after the negotiator said Pyongyang won't resume talks with Washington because of its 'hostile' policies.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun speaks during a news briefing after meeting with South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young at the foreign ministry in Seoul Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Biegun is in Seoul to hold talks with South Korean officials about allied cooperation on issues including North Korea. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of -- The top U.S.
Biegun was likely referring to recent North Korean state media reports that cited Vice Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui as saying Pyongyang won't resume the diplomacy unless Washington discards what she described as "hostile" policies. Choe, who has been deeply involved in the nuclear talks, also slammed the U.S. for its "shallow tactic" to use North Korea for domestic political gains.
"Both are locked in an old way of thinking, focused on only the negatives and what is impossible, rather than thinking creatively about what is possible," Biegun said in a written statement published later Wednesday. That comment wasn't included in his earlier verbal remarks to reporters, which were almost identical to the written statement.
"When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment," Biegun said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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