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U.S. NEWSSaturday 17 October 2015
Obama: If North Korea serious on denuclearization, we’ll talk
President Barack Obama meets with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, mobile ballistic missile that at the heavily militarized
in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. could potentially hit the U.S. border between the two
Obama said Iran had been Koreas, and speculation
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) prepared to have a “serious that North Korea could be
conversation” about the planning another nuclear
M. PENNINGTON Pyongyang has to be seri- President Park Geun-hye, a possibility of giving up the test explosion or a rocket
Associated Press ous about abandoning nu- close ally, who echoed the pursuit of nuclear weap- launch into space using
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. clear weapons, President U.S. leader’s view. ons. He said there’s no in- ballistic missile technology.
is ready to negotiate with Barack Obama said Friday. The North has conducted dication of that in North In a joint statement issued
longtime adversary North Obama was speaking after three nuclear tests since Korea’s case. International after Friday’s meeting, the
Korea as it has with Iran, but meeting with South Korean 2006 and is developing a aid-for-disarmament talks U.S. and South Korea said
with the North stalled seven that if North Korea takes
years ago. “At the point such a step, “it will face
where Pyongyang says, consequences, including
‘We’re interested in seeing seeking further significant
relief from sanctions and measures by the UN Secu-
improved relations, and rity Council.” The statement
we are prepared to have a also said they would never
serious conversation about accept North Korea as a
denuclearization,’ it’s fair nuclear weapons state.
to say we’ll be right there Park has cultivated closer
at the table,” Obama told relations with China as she
a joint news conference. looks to coax Beijing away
However, he added that from its traditional embrace
North Korea’s violation of of Pyongyang. Last month,
past agreements called she prompted handwring-
into question its willingness ing in Washington when
to allow the kind of “rigor- she attended a Chinese
ous” verification regimes military parade marking
put in place with Iran. the end of World War II that
Park’s visit follows height- was snubbed by leaders of
ened tensions this summer most major democracies.q
