Biden “If tensions in North Korea rise, we are ready for a corresponding response…”

U.S. President Joe Biden said on the 25th (local time) that if North Korea raises tensions, it will respond accordingly, but is ready for diplomacy. However, he added that there is a condition that the final result must be denuclearization.

At a press conference held at the White House that day, President Biden responded to questions about the US response to North Korea’s test-launch of two ballistic missiles the day before and asking for’Red Line’.

President Biden said, “First, the missiles that were test-fired (by North Korea) violated UN (Security Council) Resolution 1718. We are in consultation with our allies and partners.” It made it clear that it violated the UN Security Council resolution, which banned North Korea from testing ballistic missiles.

“If they choose to raise tensions, there will be a response. We will respond accordingly,” said President Biden.

However, President Biden immediately said, “I am also ready to engage in some form of diplomacy,” and “However, the final result is subject to the condition that it must be denuclearized.” “This is what we do now in consultation with the alliance,” he said.

President Biden did not speak up and kept the answer concise.

To the question of whether the North Korean nuclear crisis is the highest foreign policy of the Biden administration, he briefly answered “Yes”.

When a reporter asked, “Former President Barack Obama warned President Donald Trump that North Korea is the highest foreign policy task that we carefully observe, but do you also evaluate the North Korean crisis that way?” Called the reporter Hal. .

President Biden held his first press conference after taking office on the same day. It is the first time since the inauguration ceremony on January 20 that the United States has summarized and revealed its position on North Korea. At a press conference that lasted about an hour, about 10 reporters got an opportunity to ask questions.

A longer explanation was given on the competition between the US and China. President Biden stressed that he would compete with China, not confrontation. “We’re going to be in intense competition with China,” he said, “but we don’t want confrontation.” He said he would continue to demand that international rules be followed, fair trade and competition.

In order to win the competition with China, he announced plans to first invest in US workers and science and technology, secondly restore the US alliance, and thirdly raise issues regarding China’s human rights violations and oppression of freedom.

President Biden said, “China will also have a goal, and I will not blame itself on it.” “China has the overall goal of becoming the world’s leading country, the world’s richest country, and the world’s most powerful country. As long as I am, that will not happen.” “Because the United States will continue to grow and expand. “I emphasized.

President Biden also said he would hold China accountable for issues such as the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang Uyghur. President Biden also used the phrase “I respect my dealings with President Xi Jinping.” President Xi said he is a smart man, although he has no democratic framework.

No country’s leader could ignore the values ​​the country believes, but explained that the United States will continue to talk about the values ​​of freedom and human rights, and President Xi said that he understood it.

President Biden said, “I will invite democratic allies here to discuss the future together.” He also announced his intention to promote the democracy summit soon.

President Biden has been asked several times whether he will challenge the 2024 presidential election. I answered with the intention of doing so, but when I did not answer clearly with’yes’ or’no,’ the question came up again and again. President Biden finally said, “My plan is to run for reelection. That’s my expectation.”

Still, he said, “I am a person who respects fate,” he said, “but he hasn’t made a solid plan yet, but if he reelected, his running mate would become vice president Harris.”

Washington = Correspondent Park Hyun-young [email protected]