MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The United States is not ready for a direct dialogue with North Korea and puts forward out-of-limit conditions, Ryabkov said Monday.
"But now the United States is not ready for direct dialogue [with North Korea]. Or it is theoretically ready, but, as I understand, puts forward conditions that are beyond all limits for the other party. Accordingly, the other party, apparently, as I understand it, concludes for itself that this pressure can be stopped only by opposing to it a certain factor of force," Ryabkov told Sputnik Radio.
He added that a mediator could be needed to establish dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.
"In fact, the question is how to find the point where the interests and capabilities of Pyongyang and Washington come together. Given all the contrasts between the political cultures and approaches to the situations these two players have, it won't work without their mutual consent. Mediation is possible," Ryabkov said.
"We put forward certain mechanisms, which, in fact, provide that the situation has to be curbed, and China does the same. Status quo has to be secured, at least for a while, and then we can slowly ease it off, put the bar lower and fix it there. It is natural, it has been invented before us, and it has been used many times in different situations of diplomatic nature. But, unfortunately, this strategy does not work yet," Ryabkov added.
The situation on the Korean peninsula has become aggravated in recent months due to a series of missile launches and nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang, all of which are claimed to be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. On July 4 and July 28, Pyongyang conducted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
