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North Korea halting talks with US until election is over, Russia says
MOSCOW, May 20, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – North Korea has halted talks with the
United States until the results of the US presidential election in November
are known, Russia’s ambassador to Pyongyang told news agencies Wednesday.
President Donald Trump has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times
at historic summits and voiced admiration for him, although hopes of striking
a comprehensive agreement have faded.
“As for dialogue with Washington, which they deem to be pointless for now,
it seems to have been postponed at least until after the US presidential
election,” Ambassdaor Alexander Matsegora told Interfax news agency in an
interview.
“They shall see what happens next,” he said.
North Korea has fired off a series of rockets as it demands concessions
from the Trump administration, which says that international sanctions should
remain until the regime fully denuclearizes.
Matsegora said he expects dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang to
eventually resume, adding Russia was unhappy with the suspension of talks that
could increase tension in the border region.
“Clearly, Moscow cannot be happy with the deep-freeze in the US-North
Korean dialogue, which is fraught with an escalation of tensions in the region
adjacent to our Far Eastern border,” he said.
The ambassador also criticised US sanctions on North Korea which he said
were hindering supplies of crucial medical equipment to Pyongyang.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in March called for sanctions relief
during the coronavirus pandemic, telling G20 leaders it was a matter “of life
and death”.
Matsegora said sanctions were blocking the supply of medications and
medical equipment to North Korea and Washington was “hunting down anyone who
has at least some trade with North Korea, even if completely harmless things
are supplied.”
BSS/AFP/MMA/1610HRS