Sean Spicer speaks at the International Government Communications Forum in Sharjah.-Photo by M. Sajjad/Khaleej Times
Spicer said the US understands the threat that North Korea poses.
Published: Wed 28 Mar 2018, 4:01 PM
Updated: Wed 28 Mar 2018, 6:15 PM
North Korea must meet America’s demands to “sit down face-to-face for a meeting with the US”, Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary, said, while speaking on the sidelines of the International Government Communications Forum in Sharjah on Wednesday.
Spicer’s comment was in reaction to reports that North Korea had requested for a meeting with the US earlier this year. It was reported earlier this month the US President Donald Trump had accepted a meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un. South Korea leaders had met with Kim Jong-Un to discuss the denuclearisation agreement.
“We understand the threat North Korea poses, so we need to get those dialogues moving. But I think there are certain conditions that the president played out and those conditions need to get met before North Korea comes to a face-to-face meeting. I think that’s the big issue here,” Spicer said.
For decades, the US and international community have tried to negotiate with North Korea on putting an end to their nuclear and missile development and tests, as well as its export of ballistic missile technology. However, the efforts have consistently failed over the years. North Korea has made several threats to nuke the US and have carried out unprecedented submarine missile tests.
Chung Eui-yong, Seoul’s national security office chief, then met with Trump, where he was briefed on North Korea’s revived mission to refrain from further nuclear or missile tests.