Washington is closely monitoring North Korea for any signs of a potential missile launch or nuclear test during or around the end-of-year holiday season—what officials in Pyongyang have described as a “Christmas gift.”
The United States said last week that it wouldn’t accept a year-end deadline set unilaterally by North Korea to make concessions in nuclear talks. However, Stephen Biegun, U.S. special envoy for North Korea, said Washington is open to talks on denuclearization and urged Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table.
