U.S. supports providing COVID-19 vaccine to N. Korea despite missile launches: Lambert
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, May 25 (Yonhap) -- The United States continues to support providing COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea despite the country's recent missile provocations, a senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.
Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and South Korea, also reiterated that the U.S. remains open to dialogue with the North to discuss any issue.
"The U.S. position remains unchanged even in light of these most recent escalatory actions. We continue to support humanitarian assistance and the provision of COVID-19 related assistance," he said in a virtual press briefing, organized by Washington Foreign Press Center.
"We have always viewed humanitarian assistance as a separate issue from making progress and achieving complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added.
His remarks come after North Korea fired three ballistic missiles, including an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), early Wednesday (Seoul time), marking its 17th show of force this year.
Lambert noted the North has now fired 23 ballistic missiles since the start of the year, "all of which violated multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, and demonstrate that the DPRK continues to advance the capabilities of its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs."
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
The U.S. diplomat reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to engage with Pyongyang in dialogue.
"The United States remains open to dialogue with DPRK on any issue and without preconditions. We urge the DPRK to work with the international community to facilitate the rapid vaccination of its population," said Lambert.
Pyongyang has avoided denuclearization talks with the U.S. since late 2019.
Officials in Seoul and Washington have noted the North may be preparing to conduct a nuclear test in the near future.
Lambert argued U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan, as well as their trilateral cooperation, will only be strengthened by North Korean provocation, saying, "We will not be deterred from cooperating together, to keep our three countries and our interests secure."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
NIS looking into N. Korea's suspected provision of weapons to Russia
-
Thailand seeks extradition of S. Korean suspect in Pattaya murder
-
Paik Kun-woo's 1st Mozart album: a return to musical roots
-
N. Korea's Kim, daughter attend ceremony for new street in Pyongyang
-
Army chief to visit U.S. for talks with counterpart, land forces symposium
-
NIS looking into N. Korea's suspected provision of weapons to Russia
-
Paik Kun-woo's 1st Mozart album: a return to musical roots
-
Yoon's office vows to firmly respond to unfair treatment of S. Korean companies amid Japan's pressure on Naver
-
N.K leader visits newly built ruling party training school
-
N. Korea slams U.N. members' sanctions enforcement as 'provocations'
-
NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-ADOR conflict
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
-
HRNK report sheds light on human rights abuse of N. Korean nuclear scientists
-
Top U.S. negotiator for defense cost sharing talks arrives in Seoul
-
(LEAD) N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology