US continues to pursue complete, verifiable North Korea denuclearisation, says Mark Esper

Mark Esper. Credit: AFP/file

The United States continues to pursue the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event in Hawaii, Esper said the US military has a responsibility to maintain a state of readiness against North Korea but added that diplomacy is the way to go in resolving the standoff with Pyongyang.