Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, Washington’s chief negotiator on North Korean nukes, told reporters Tuesday that Washington seeks more than just an arms control agreement. Much more. Hill, who heads back to Beijing next week for more talks, said, “We would very much like to see the six-party process lead to something bigger.” Hill noted that the US wants to foster North-South reconciliation and reach a true peace agreement to replace the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.