Washington, Sep 14 (IANS) The United States on Friday said that the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is the only practical path to lasting peace. Washington’s statement comes after North Korea this week revealed a uranium enrichment facility.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller urged Pyongyang to return to “constructive” dialogue, reaffirming the US’ “unwavering” security commitment to South Korea and Japan, Yonhap news agency reported, citing local media.
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that leader Kim Jong-Un visited a uranium enrichment centre.
Kim called for increasing the number of centrifuges for uranium enrichment to increase his nuclear weapons stockpile. Kim’s visit comes ahead of the US presidential election on November 5.
“North Korea’s continued pursuit of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime. The only practical path toward lasting peace is the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” the spokesman said in response to a question from news agency Yonhap.
“We call on the DPRK (North Korea) to fully comply with its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions and return to constructive dialogue without further delay,” the official said.
The spokesperson stressed that Washington will continue to strengthen its security ties with its allies and partners. “The United States’ commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Japan are unwavering,” he said.
Earlier, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that the US has deployed more intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment for security on the peninsula.
“I would simply say that we continue to monitor North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as well as their advances in ballistic missile technology,” Kirby said in an online press briefing.
“That’s why President Biden has worked so hard to revitalize the network of alliances and partnerships in the region. He has made intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets for the Korean Peninsula and surrounding region a special priority,” Kirby said.
The White House official also stressed that Washington wants to make it clear to Pyongyang that it is “ready to negotiate the denuclearization of the peninsula without any preconditions.”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said he had viewed a video on the uranium enrichment facility and that it would not change overall US policy on North Korea.
“We will continue to make it clear that we will defend our South Korean and Japanese allies, and we will continue to work for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Miller said during a press briefing.
Asked whether North Korea was planning to conduct a nuclear test, Miller said he did not want to predict that.
North Korea’s disclosure of its nuclear facility, as well as its launch of short-range missiles and other actions this week, have raised concerns that Pyongyang could launch major provocations to shore up its position ahead of the U.S. presidential election.
South Korean and US intelligence agencies believe North Korea operates uranium enrichment facilities at Kangsan on the outskirts of Pyongyang and the Yongbyon nuclear site north of the capital.
It is noteworthy that North Korea had invited Siegfried Hecker, a renowned American nuclear scientist, to inspect its uranium enrichment center in Yongbyon in 2010.
–IANS
MK/AKJ
