Tillerson calls for ‘different approach’ on N. Korea

“When the United States pulls back, authoritarian powers that oppose our values, and interests will step in”. Without China’s help, such business activities would be almost impossible.

While he is delaying some of the drastic cuts the White House wanted, it is far from clear that Tillerson can prevail over Trump aides such as Steve Bannon who want to dismantle parts of the federal government and limit USA engagement with the world, said three of the current and former officials.

The US Secretary of State said previous diplomatic efforts to rein in the north had failed, but offered no fresh ideas on how to deal with Pyongyang, which is alarming the world with its nuclear ambitions. Risks of military action are high as North Korea could unleash a massive artillery barrage on Seoul in retaliation.

He calls for a “two-step” approach on North Korea, with talks leading to “economic unification” and ultimately “political and military unification”.

There is no room for a traveling press pool on the small aircraft US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is taking on his Asia trip, Department of State Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner said in a telephonic press briefing on Tuesday.

Their conservative critics, on the other hand, have accused them of seeking to appease North Korea and of being too close to China, which has adamantly opposed the weapons system. Wit says the USA also needs China’s help to keep up the pressure for what he calls coercive diplomacy.

Four more tests have followed, two of them past year.

During the meeting with the President, during my visit to the United States with Donald Trump, with President Trump, indeed, North Korea fired a missile during that time, and indeed, President Trump stood beside me and said, as a strong message, that he stands with Japan 100 percent.

He noted that USA aid of $1.3 billion to North Korea in recent years was met only with more such “provocative” activity.

China has imposed a ban on coal imports from North Korea, a move that – if fully implemented – would deprive the regime of a crucial stream of revenue. China recently announced it was suspending coal imports that are an important source of revenue for North Korea for the rest of the year in adherence with United Nations sanctions. Secretary Tillerson will be in China this weekend to talk about that.

South Korea is in conflict with China over deployment of the US missile shield known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad). China sees the system as a threat to its own security although the US says it is only targeted against North Korea.

Tillerson also visited the volatile Demilitarized Zone that divides the two rival Koreas on Friday, with his entourage standing on the South side just three feet away from North Korean soldiers on their side of the line. They also believe China could do more to pressure the reclusive government of leader Kim Jong Un, grandson of the communist nation’s patriarch.

Between 1995 and 2008, the USA sent $1.35 billion to North Korea, mostly for food aid and energy assistance, according to a Congressional Research Service report.