nuclear tests before the United States would enter into any talks with theisolated Pyongyang regime, US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haleysaid Sunday.
“They have to stop testing. They have to be willing to talk about banningtheir nuclear weapons. Those things have to happen,” she said Sunday, oneday after President Donald Trump indicated he would be open to speakingdirectly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
“This is going to be phases. This isn’t going to happen overnight, as we’veseen, but it’s a dangerous situation,” Haley said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Trump’s latest remarks appeared to be a pivot away from his often-bellicoserhetoric on North Korea and Kim, but Haley said there was “no turnaround”in the US stance.
“What he has basically said is, yes, there could be a time where we talk toNorth Korea but a lot of things have to happen before that actually takesplace,” she said.
Trump has jumped between taking a provocative approach toward North Korea– including trading personal insults with Kim and threatening to destroyhis regime — and calling for a peaceful resolution.
Haley said Trump’s hot-and-cold approach was “very clear” in sending amessage to Pyongyang that “we’re not letting up on the pressure.”
“I think that (Trump) always has to keep Kim on his toes. It’s veryimportant that we don’t ever let him get so arrogant that he doesn’trealize the reality of what would happen if he started a nuclear war.”
In recent months, the North has held multiple missile launches and itssixth and most powerful nuclear test — purportedly of a hydrogen bomb –in violation of UN resolutions banning such activity.
North and South Korea are set to hold their first official dialogue in morethan two years this week, and are expected to discuss the North’sparticipation in next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.
“Those two countries have to get along. That’s good for the United Statesthat they can at least start getting back into talks,” Haley said.