North Korean vice foreign minister has on Tuesday said the United States will face “undesired consequences” if unable to present a new position over Korean peninsula denuclearization talks by 2019 end, state-run media reported.
According to Reuters news reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has set a one-year deadline for US President Donald Trump to present a new nuclear deal with a flexible attitude after their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, ended abruptly without reaching any nuclear deal due to both leader’s differences.
But however, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Trump have set aside Kim’s deadline, calling for Kim to take stern action over his last year’s commitment to complete denuclearization.
North Korean vice FM Choe Son Hui has singled out Pompeo’s last week interview with CBS, during which Pompeo has said the US may need to “change paths” if the negotiation with Pyongyang breaks down.
According to the official KCNA news agency, Choe said, “Changing paths is not a privilege that only the United States has, but it could be our own choice if we make up our mind.”
Choe added, “If the United States fails to reestablish its position within the timeline we gave, it will see truly undesired consequences.”
She further said Pyongyang’s determination to complete denuclearization remained unchanged, and it would happen “when the come comes”, but only if Washington change its current calculations.
“We know the path we will take, but we’re just hesitating to choose as we have set the deadline for the United States,” Choe said.