U.S. Has ‘Lines of Communication’ with North Korea

The United States has direct channels of communication with North Korea, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Saturday, adding that Washington was "probing" for potential dialogue with Pyongyang.

“We are probing, so stay tuned,” Tillerson told reporters during a trip to China.

“We ask: Would you like to talk? We have lines of communications to Pyongyang. We’re not in a dark situation,” he added.

Tillerson was holding a series of high-level talks as the United States looks to tighten an economic squeeze on the rogue nation, hoping to force the regime to retreat from its nuclear arms and missile programs. The Secretary of State was also laying the groundwork for President Donald Trump's forthcoming visit to the country which is scheduled for November.

The United States sees China as critical to averting a military confrontation with Pyongyang, which is fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say they believe China's priority is stability on the Korean peninsula, since a political collapse would almost certainly push destabilizing waves of refugees into northeastern China. China has said it will strictly and fully enforce U.N. resolutions against North Korea and its Commerce Ministry on Thursday said North Korean firms in China and joint ventures in China and overseas would be shut down by January, in line with the latest UN resolution.

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