TOKYO, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Glyn Davies, U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, said the North Korean government is out of step with its former nuclear negotiating partners.
Davies spoke from Tokyo as he wrapped up a week's worth of talks on security on the Korean Peninsula. He said the China, South Korea, Japan "and I believe Russia" agree there is no room for a North Korean weapons state.
China has been pressing for a resumption of multiparty nuclear talks with North Korea. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests since talks stalled in 2009. Davies said North Korea needs to give up its nuclear weapons to restart the negotiation process.
"North Korea, however, is moving in the opposite direction," he said in a statement Monday. "They have made clear through words and actions that they reject that premise."
Davis added that he was frustrated with North Korea's so-called byungjin policy, which puts economic development and nuclear weapons development on equal footing. North Korea's simultaneous pursuit of nuclear weapons while engaging in efforts to talk "are completely unacceptable," he said.
North Korea is suspected of putting its military and nuclear ambitions before the welfare of its people.
