Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in his first sit-down interview since assuming his role as the nation's top diplomat, addressed a number of pressing issues regarding the US' role in the global order, the Korean peninsula, the precarious situation with North Korea, the US-China alliance, and his relationship with the press.
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Tillerson finally speaks: 'The threat of North Korea is imminent'
The secretary of state addressed the issue with North Korea, the US' relationship with China, and his relationship with the press.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
- Tillerson said the US' main objective with regard to the east is a denuclearized Korean peninsula.
- He also believes that based on recent actions taken by North Korea, the nation is "an imminent threat" that China needs to work with the US to combat.
- The secretary of state articulated a the need for a "higher level of dialogue" between Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
- Tillerson said that his relationship with the press would be "trip dependent" and that he is not a "big media press access person."
- Regarding the revelation that he allegedly used an email alias to communicate with Exxon officials about the risks of climate change, Tillerson said he could not comment on it and that questions should be directed at Exxon Mobil.
During the start of the interview, conducted by the right-leaning Independent Journal Review, Tillerson addressed recent media reports that he cut his trip to South Korea short because of "fatigue."
"[The South Korean government]
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Regarding foreign policy, Tillerson stressed that the US' main objective is a denuclearized Korean peninsula, but that "circumstances [regarding North Korea] could evolve" to a point where the US may have to consider allowing South Korea and Japan to develop nuclear weapons.
For the moment, Tillerson said he hopes to de-escalate the conflict with North Korea by imposing strict sanctions on the rogue nation. In addition to imposing sanctions, he voiced the need for stronger cooperation between the US and China to deter North Korea from nuclearization.
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