U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rebuffed North Korean hopes it may be accepted as a nuclear state, saying the United States will never have normal, sanctions-free ties with a nuclear-armed North Korea.
Clinton laid down a hard line as the United States weighs whether to engage in bilateral talks with North Korea, a step it hopes will bring Pyongyang back to wider, six-party talks on ending its nuclear programs.
The North, which conducted its second nuclear test in May, has said it wished to be treated as a nuclear state.
While repeating the U.S. openness to bilateral talks with North Korea, Clinton said the United States would not soften its sanctions on Pyongyang.
"Current sanctions will not be relaxed until Pyongyang takes verifiable, irreversible steps toward complete denuclearization," Clinton said in a speech hosted by the United States Institute for Peace think tank.
"Its leaders should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal, sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea," she added. "We are prepared to meet bilaterally with North Korea. But North Korea's return to the negotiating table is not enough."
Korea, Clinton said the United States would not soften its sanctions on Pyongyang.
"Current sanctions will not be relaxed until Pyongyang takes verifiable, irreversible steps toward complete denuclearization," Clinton said in a speech hosted by the United States Institute for Peace think tank.
"Its leaders should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal, sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea," she added. "We are prepared to meet bilaterally with North Korea. But North Korea's return to the negotiating table is not enough."
Yah, no. We don't want countries with crazy leaders to have nukes. Does that mean we have to get rid of ours, what with the usurper and all "in charge"?
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Barack/Barry: If you're NOT LEGIT, then you MUST QUIT!!
"Its leaders should be under no illusion that the United States will ever have normal, sanctions-free relations with a nuclear-armed North Korea," she added. "We are prepared to meet bilaterally with North Korea. But North Korea's return to the negotiating table is not enough."
Yep. Hillary understands when to get tough and when to take a more diplomatic course. Unlike her boss, she doesn't apologize for her country, she works for it.
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It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony