A former U.S. official says that now is the time to put pressure on North Korea rather than seeking dialogue.
 
Robert Einhorn, former special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control at the U.S. State Department, made the remarks on Wednesday in a meeting with ruling Saenuri Party Floor Leader Won Yoo-chul at the National Assembly. In the meeting, Einhorn said that diplomacy without pressure cannot be effective.
 
The former U.S. official said that North Korea has shown advancements in its recent test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by using solid fuel instead of liquid fuel. He said that that in order to stop the North’s advancement in nuclear technology, it’s important to thoroughly implement the UN Security Council sanctions against the North. He stressed the role of China for the successful implementation of international sanctions.
 
In addition, Einhorn said that South Korea and the U.S. need to enhance their joint deterrence capabilities against the North through the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) system.
 
Einhorn is visiting South Korea to attend a forum hosted by the Seoul-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies.