In high-level talks, U.S. asks China to do more to rein in North Korea

Record ID: 896529

  • Title: In high-level talks, U.S. asks China to do more to rein in North Korea
  • Date: 21st June 2017
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 21, 2017) (REUTERS) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON AND U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES MATTIS WALKING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "We both call for complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. And we call on the DPRK to halt its illegal nuclear weapons program and its ballistic missile test, as stipulated in the UN Security Council resolutions." MEDIUM SHOT OF TILLERSON AND MATTIS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "With respect to the three additional American citizens that have been illegally detained, unlawfully detained by the regime in North Korea: our efforts continue towards their release. I have nothing to report further on that at this time." WIDE OF EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "We reiterated to China that they have a diplomatic responsibility to exert much greater economic and diplomatic pressure on the regime if they want to prevent further escalation in the region. Whether it is money laundering, extorting Korean expatriates, or malicious cyber activity, North Korea has engaged in a number of criminal enterprises that helped fund its weapons programs. We must step up our efforts to help to curtail the sources of revenue." WIDE OF EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "We will be looking to China to help the Iraqi government in specific meaningful ways to ensure the country's long term stability and economic growth as it battles ISIS and begins its long process of rebuilding." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON SAYING: "We will not be shy about raising our concerns about China's human rights record. And I was direct and candid in our meetings today." (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES MATTIS SAYING: "We also discussed the importance of freedom of navigation elsewhere in the region and the peaceful resolution of those disputes in the maritime space and we discussed ways to decrease tension and reduce risk in the South China Sea. As we maintain open dialogue on this topic, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows. Third, the United States and China agreed to explore new areas of mil-to-mil (military to military) cooperation including exchange of officers to improve transparency and mutual understanding and to discuss strategic issues that Secretary Tillerson mentioned." WHITE FLASH MATTIS AND TILLERSON WALKING OFF STAGE
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2017 20:44
  • Keywords: Rex Tillerson James Mattis North Korea China nuclear
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016M82KHZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The United States pressed China on Wednesday (June 21) to exert more diplomatic and economic pressure to help rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs during a round of high-level talks in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said.
    The meeting of top U.S. and Chinese diplomats and defense chiefs was held a day after President Donald Trump said Chinese efforts to use its leverage with Pyongyang had failed, raising fresh doubts about his administration's strategy for countering the threat from North Korea.
    The death of American university student Otto Warmbier this week, after his release from 17 months of imprisonment in North Korea, has further complicated Trump's approach to North Korea, which aides have called his top national security priority.
    Tillerson also announced that Trump plans to make a state visit to China later this year, signaling that the president seeks improved relations with Beijing despite his frustrations over North Korea.
    North Korea topped the agenda at the Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, which paired Tillerson and Mattis with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and General Fang Fenghui, chief of joint staff of the People's Liberation Army.
    The talks also dealt with issues such as territorial disputes between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea and global counterterrorism efforts.
    U.S. officials urged China to work with the United States and others to crack down on illicit North Korean activities that help fund the leadership in Pyongyang, and to prevent their companies from doing business with sanctioned North Korean entities, Tillerson said.
    The United States has made clear it would like to see an oil embargo and bans on the North Korean airline and guest workers among other moves, steps diplomats say have been resisted by China and Russia.
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