Pence says ROK President Moon supports US additional sanctions on DPRK

APD NEWS

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US Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in supports the US decision to apply more sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) because Moon acknowledges pressure has helped bring Pyongyang to inter-Korean talks.

"President Moon reaffirmed to me his strong support of our extreme pressure campaign to continue to bring additional sanctions on the DPRK," Pence told reporters on the second day of his trip to the ROK for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Pence said the DPRK's military parade on Thursday was "one more part of an ongoing provocation" and another effort by the DPRK to display their ballistic missiles.

US Vice President Mike Pence (L) shakes hands with the ROK's President Moon Jae-in (R) at the start of their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on February 8, 2018.

Moon met with Pence on Thursday and reaffirmed his commitment to the US and pledged to play a key role in the denuclearization of the DPRK.

The DPRK's 22-member government delegation, led by senior official Kim Yong Nam, arrived in the ROK on Friday via a direct air route.

The delegation also includes Kim Yo Jong, sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. Moon and Kim Yo Jong will meet and have lunch on Saturday, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

Meanwhile, the DPRK's state media agency, KCNA, said on Wednesday that the DPRK has no intention of meeting US officials during the Winter Olympics.

(REUTERS)