(VOVWORLD) - US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Thursday urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to exercise "restraint" following Pyongyang’s warning to reveal a "new strategic weapon" if nuclear negotiations with the US are further stalled.
 US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Esper told Fox News that a political agreement is still the best path toward North Korea denuclearization, adding that the US will stick to this path, and will urge Kim Jong-un and his leadership team to sit back down at the negotiation table.
The US is on the lookout for any sign of missile testing or launching, and its military forces are ready to respond as necessary, Esper added. The same day, South Korea's deputy foreign minister arrived in Washington for talks with US officials about current security challenges.