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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Updated at:

US ready for denuclearization talks with North Korea without preconditions — official

"We are willing to sit down and negotiate without preconditions," John Kirby said

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby AP Photo/Susan Walsh

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby

© AP Photo/Susan Walsh

MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden is ready to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without preconditions, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told the Kyodo News agency.

"We are willing to sit down and negotiate without preconditions," the US official was quoted as saying on Friday.

In his words, North Korea has not yet responded positively to that offer.

According to Kyodo, it was the first time that the Biden administration openly declared its readiness for top-level talks with North Korea. Prior to that, Washington negotiated with Kim Jong-un during the presidency of Donald Trump.

According to high-ranking officials, who participate in preparations for the upcoming trilateral summit of the United States, Japan and South Korea, the leaders will agree to step up their policy of deterring North Korea and China’s growing military might.

US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minsiter Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are to meet on August 18 in the US president’s country retreat in Camp David, Maryland. The previous in-person meeting of the three leaders was held on May 21, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

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