Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday rejected the idea that the Obama administration has lost its focus on North Korea, to the point at which it is openly testing nuclear weapons in defiance of United Nations sanctions.
“Let me just make it clear, North Korea has never been left unattended to, not for one day,” Kerry told reporters after delivering a rare briefing from State Department headquarters.
“We have had constant consultations,” Kerry said. “On the first trip when I went to China. … I spent most of that trip and most of my time on North Korea.”
“China had a particular approach it wanted to take. And we agreed, and respected to give them space to implement that. But today in my conversation with the Chinese, I made it very clear: that has not worked, and we cannot continue business as usual,” Kerry said.
“It’s time for everybody to make sure that this does not continue as business as usual,” Kerry reiterated, before ending the briefing.
The press conference had been expected to be a lengthier statement from Kerry on the North Korean issue in the wake of that country’s latest alleged nuclear test. Instead, Kerry focused mostly on other matters, including the need for the Senate to approve State Department nominees.
