Pence hints US-N.Korea talks

Comments by US Vice President Mike Pence suggest the United States may be looking more favourably at diplomatic engagement with North Korea

Pence’s comments came amid South Korea’s interest in a rare summit with its neighbour and long-time foe, as per a Reuters report.

Pence said to Washington Post in an interview the US and South Korea had agreed on terms for further diplomatic engagement with North Korea, first with Seoul and then possibly leading to direct talks with Washington.

The prospect of talks comes after months of tension between Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes .

Pence said Washington would keep up its “maximum pressure campaign” against Pyongyang but would be open to possible talks at the same time.