White House official: N. Korean leader could use nuclear weapons as ‘blackmail’

The National Security Council’s Asia director said on Tuesday that North Korea may use its nuclear weapons as “an instrument of blackmail” to achieve its geopolitical objectives.

“They have made no secret in conversations they have had with former American officials, for example, and others that they want to use these weapons as an instrument of blackmail to achieve other goals, even including perhaps coercive reunification of the Korean Peninsula one day,” Matt Pottinger said at a conference in Washington, Fox News reported.

{mosads}The White House official maintained that the U.S. does not seek leadership change in Pyongyang, but he reiterated that the administration wants North Korea to terminate its nuclear weapons program, according to the news network.

Pottinger also stressed that the U.S. will increase pressure on North Korea to “diplomatically isolate” the country.

“We really have no choice but to increase pressure on North Korea to diplomatically isolate them, to bring a greater economic pain to bear until they are willing to make concrete steps to start reducing that threat,” he said.

 

President Trump this week signaled that he would be willing to have bilateral talks with the leader of North Korea, stating that he would be “honored” to meet with Kim Jong Un under the proper circumstances.

 

Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have signaled that the administration’s approach toward North Korea includes diplomatic cooperation with China, but the White House frequently underscores that all options are on the table.