S. Korea, U.S. refrain from confronting N. Korea warning on scrapping working-level talks

北 실무협상 관련 '중대한 결심' 경고에 韓美 '맞대응 자제'

North Korea threatened yesterday that if South Korea and the U.S. go ahead with their joint military drills then the nuclear talks might be called off.
Soon after that, though he didn't mention the statement, President Trump reiterated that he's in no rush.
South Korea, though, says the talks need to resume as soon as possible.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Pyeongyang is warwning that the Seoul-Washington joint military drills will affect the working-level talks between it and the U.S.,... but President Trump highlighted again... he's in no rush.
Speaking in a Cabinet meeting in Washington on Tuesday, Trump said he doesn't feel pressure to reach a quick denuclearization deal.
"The relationship is very good. I think we've made tremendous progress on North Korea. And again, time is not of the essence but I think good things will ultimately happen."
Seoul's unification ministry on Wednesday said... it will keep monitoring the movements from the North.
But it stressed... that what's most important is to quickly restart dialogue between Pyeongyang and Washington.
"The government expects working-level talks to be held soon, just as the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. agreed at Panmunjeom,... and it expects that those talks will lead to some fruitful outcomes."
On Tuesday, North Korea's foreign ministry denounced the U.S. for scheduling joint military exercises with South Korea... and warned they could put the denuclearization talks at risk.
Pyeongyang warned that it will determine whether to hold those talks,... after seeing what the U.S. does with the drills.
The North has long criticized the drills as a rehearsal for war.
North Korea has not responded to a U.S. proposal to hold a working-level meeting this week.
Neither has the North's warning been directly acknowleged by the U.S. or South Korea,... who are showing rather that their sole focus for now is to keep moving towards a new round of talks.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.

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