Speaking directly to North Korea, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that the United States is "not your enemy, we are not your threat, but you are presenting an unacceptable threat to us and we have to respond."
Tillerson made his remarks during a press briefing at the State Department. He also said the U.S. "would like to sit and have a dialogue about the future. Our other options are not attractive." Pyongyang must stop trying to develop nuclear weapons and testing intercontinental ballistic missiles, he said, but it's important the government knows the U.S. is not asking for a regime change and will not send military "north of the 38th parallel" dividing North and South Korea.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Europe's all-inclusive holiday trendThe Week Recommends Big US chains are capitalising on the 'recent surge' in package breaks to bring upscale resorts to Europe
-
Why is recasting so difficult?In The Spotlight Switching much-loved characters can cause confusion – and spark a backlash
-
Diamonds could be a brilliant climate solutionUnder the radar A girl and the climate's best friend
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaosSpeed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmationsSpeed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asksSpeed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspectsSpeed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's returnSpeed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protestsSpeed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossupSpeed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
