Everything” should be on the table if it helps make progress towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday, reiterating the United States’ commitment to diplomacy with North Korea.

Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remarks, noting that Washington’s dialogue overtures have been answered “in the form of missile launches and other forms of provocative actions,” which he said warrant efforts to “double down” on deterrence.

“If we had regular dialogue channels with counterparts in Pyongyang, if we could make progress on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, I think everything should be on the table,” he said during a hearing of the Indo-Pacific subcommittee under the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Kritenbrink was responding as Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) talked about a bill that he introduced to seek an agreement for a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, not a permanent peace
treaty.

The assistant secretary reiterated the Biden administration’s continued pursuit of diplomacy with Pyongyang.

“We will never take off the table the fact that the door to dialogue in a better path remains open, but in the current circumstances, I think we have no choice but to double down on our deterrent capabilities,” he said.

His remarks came as calls have grown for greater efforts to address North Korean threats amid Pyongyang’s continued weapons tests and its tightening military alignment with Moscow.

Kritenbrink underscored the need to continue to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and work with the international community to increase sanctions so as to deter North Korea and its partnership with Russia.

Commenting on the recent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the official voiced deep concerns.

“We thought that President Putin’s visit was just the latest manifestation of this d
eeply disturbing and growing partnership. We are concerned about the implications both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency