North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Photo: KCNA)

“They have not responded positively to that offer, but it’s still on the table. We are willing to sit down and negotiate without preconditions” Kirby said in an interview with Kyodo News.

On Pyongyang’s lack of response to the Biden administration, he noted that the US will be ready to defend its national security interests and those of its Korean and Japanese allies.

“That means putting more capability in the region which we have done before, and will certainly consider doing again in the future if we have to,” Kirby added.

Kirby made the remarks a day before Biden is set to host a trilateral meeting with the leaders of Japan and South Korea. North Korea’s rapid development of nuclear and missile capabilities will be a major item on the agenda.