United States President Barack Obama has rejected North Korea's offer to suspend its missile program if the US ends its annual military exercises with the South. He noted that the US will continue its ties with Japan and South Korea until the Kim Jong-un-led state gets more serious about denuclearization.
In a report by The Guardian, the president said on Sunday that he does not believe thAT North Korea is sincere regarding their offer OF halting their nuclear tests if and when U.S. suspends their military exercises with South Korea. He added that Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, should have a better proposal than the initial offer made.
This comes after North Korea's foreign minister, Ri Su Young, said in a statement that his county has the right to maintain a nuclear deterrent. He also warned that Pyongyang will not be intimidated by international sanctions, BBC reported. It could be remembered that the U.S. toughened its sanctions against the North after a series of ballistic missile tests and the officials' numeroyus human rights violations. Ri added, "Stop the nuclear war exercises in the Korean peninsula, then we should also cease our nuclear tests."
The comments of Ri came hours after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine to show their defiance against this year's U.S.-South Korea exercises. Due to the latest ballistic missile test, the U.S. state department will limit the travel of Ri and his delegation to UN functions in New York.
The remarks of the U.S. president were made during a news conference on Sunday with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Hannover, Germany, The Washington Times reported. Obama continued to say that if North Korea shows seriousness in stopping their nuclear tests, "then we'll be prepared to enter into some serious conversations with them about reducing tensions and our approach to protecting our allies in the region."
Obama continued that they will not simply stop military exercises based on a press release. He also noted that until North Korea comes up with a better proposal, they will continue to ensure keeping the American people safe and keeping their allies safe, in reference to South Korea and Japan.
