John Kerry in Seoul says North Korea is ‘not even close’ to talks with US if it continues with its nuclear program

kerry korea 4Kerry said he believed an Iran agreement could have ‘a positive influence’ on North Korea, because it would show that giving up nuclear weapons improves domestic economies and ends isolation.

‘Perhaps that can serve as an example to North Korea about a better way to move, a better way to try and behave,’ he said.

International negotiators are rushing to finalize a nuclear deal with Iran by the end of June under which Iran’s program would be curbed to prevent it from developing atomic weapons in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Nuclear talks with North Korea, which has already developed atomic weapons despite previous attempts to forestall it, broke down three years ago as it has continued atomic tests and other belligerent behavior, including ballistic missile launches.kerry korea 5

North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and is now believed to have at least 10 such weapons despite some of the toughest international sanctions in existence. It conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013, and U.S.-based experts forecast that it could increase its nuclear arsenal to between 20 and 100 weapons by 2020.

In addition to talks on issues related to North Korea, Kerry in Seoul will be laying the groundwork for a visit to Washington in June of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

Kerry is to deliver a speech on cyber security and related issues. Both North Korea and China pose major cyber security challenges. 

South Korea has faced hacking attacks it has blamed on North Korea, and the United States accuses the North of being behind the massive attack on Sony Pictures last year that resulted in new U.S. sanctions.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3085919/North-Korea-not-close-talks-U-S-nuclear-programme-Kerry.html#ixzz3aW4OSzK9

 

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