Tillerson’s offer of talks with North Korea left hanging

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s surprising diplomatic offer of unconditional talks with North Korea hinges on two big X factors: Does the North even want talks, and is President Donald Trump fully behind his top diplomat?

The early signs were not promising. The White House on Wednesday contradicted Tillerson’s overture. North Korea has yet to respond.

The diplomatic initiative, made in remarks at a Washington think tank, came two weeks after North Korea tested a missile that could potentially carry a nuclear warhead to the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. That’s a capability the North has strove for decades to master. Trump has vowed to stop it from reaching its goal, using military force if necessary.

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