Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Envoy Says US Ready to Restart North Korea Nuclear Talks

VOA News

   U.S. envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun says the Trump administration
   is ready to resume stalled negotiations over North Korea's nuclear
   program.

   Speaking Wednesday in Seoul where he was meeting with South Korean
   officials, Biegun said the United States is "prepared to engage as soon
   as we hear from our counterparts in North Korea."

   President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter earlier this month that he had
   received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressing a
   desire "to meet and start negotiations" after the conclusion of
   U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises, which ended Tuesday.

   North Korea considers the exercises a threat to its existence, and
   since late last month it carried out six short-range ballistic missile
   tests that Kim said were in response to the drills.

   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday he was concerned about
   the latest missile tests, disagreeing with Trump, who has shrugged off
   their importance.

   "I wish that they would not" launch the missiles, the top U.S. diplomat
   told CBS News.

   The two latest projectiles, fired last Friday, flew 230 kilometers into
   the waters off North Korea, but, aimed differently, could reach South
   Korea as well as American troops and civilians living there.

   Trump has voiced his discontent as well, not about North Korea's
   missile tests, but about the costs of the military drills with Seoul.

.