US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson says the United States is willing to engage North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un in dialogue without preconditions. Tillerson who stated this on Tuesday at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, maintained that the US "cannot accept" a nuclear-armed North Korea but called on the two countries to begin a dialogue. According to him "We've said from the diplomatic side, we're ready to talk anytime North Korea would like to talk. And we're ready to have the first meeting without precondition.
"It's not realistic to say we're only going to talk if you come to the table ready to give up your [nuclear weapons] programme.
"Let's just meet, and we can talk about the weather if you want. Talk about whether it's going to be a square table or a round table, if that's what you are excited about. But can we at least sit down and see each other face to face, and then we can begin to lay out a map, a road map of what we might be willing to work towards."
The statement has been interpreted to mean a major shift in State Department Policy. Meanwhile, the White House says President Trump's position has not changed. In an email to newsmen, Sarah Sanders, the President's press secretary said
"North Korea is acting in an unsafe way not only toward Japan, China and South Korea, but the entire world. North Korea's actions are not good for anyone and certainly not good for North Korea"
