The United States said Tuesday that North Korea was showing it was not even "remotely ready" to resume nuclear talks, despite apparent concessions secured by an unofficial US envoy. The White House made clear there was no change to US policy, despite an apparent offer by Pyongyang to readmit nuclear inspectors and to hold negotiations on its nuclear program.
President Barack Obama's spokesman Robert Gibbs said Pyongyang had over a period of years and different US administrations, failed to match its words with actions, and referred to a recent spike in tensions with Pyongyang. "We're not going to get a table and a room and have six-party talks just for the feel-good notion of having six-party talks," he said. "When and if the North Koreans are ever serious about living up to their obligations, then we can think about restarting six-party talks.
"But the belligerent actions that the North Koreans have demonstrated over the past many weeks I don't think provide anybody the confidence that they're even remotely ready to resume in a responsible way those talks." North Korea pulled out of six-nation nuclear disarmament talks also involving the United States, Russia, China, South Korea and Japan in April 2009 and ordered US and UN nuclear inspectors out of the country.
US diplomatic trouble-shooter Bill Richardson unveiled apparent concessions by the Pyongyang government after making a visit to the isolated state that the White House stressed was unofficial and independent. Gibbs said there were no plans for Obama to meet Richardson on his return to the United States. The unofficial envoy is however expected to file a report on his trip to the US government.
Richardson announced on Monday that North Korea had agreed to allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country and to consider the creation of a three-way military commission with Seoul and the United States to monitor disputed areas. Pyongyang also agreed to "negotiate a deal for a third party, such as South Korea, to buy fresh-fuel rods from North Korea," Richardson's office announced.