Tillerson says U.S. is willing to talk to North Korea

Washington [U.S.A.], August 2 (ANI): United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has stressed that the U.S. is willing to sit down for talks with North Korea, but only if it stops its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Tillerson, while addressing the State Department press briefing, said that the U.S. was not seeking regime change or looking to send its military "north of the 38th parallel" that divides North and South Korea. But he emphasized that the danger posed by Pyongyang, which test fired two Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in July, was unacceptable.

"We do not seek regime change. We do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula. We do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel," Tillerson said.

"We are not your enemy, we are not your threat, but you are presenting an unacceptable threat to us and we have to respond. We would like to sit and have a dialogue about the future."

"Our other options are not attractive," Tilerson added.

Meanwhile, the White House has said that "all options are on the table" as far as tackling the North Korea issue is concerned, CNN reports.

"All options are on the table," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the media at a press briefing here, adding, "President Donald Trump will not broadcast his decisions."

Earlier, Trump had said that his administration would "handle" the threat posed by North Korea's latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the Washington Times reported.

North Korea launched its second ICBM on Friday, which happens to be its 14th missile test this year. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI