USA news on Youtube Feb 4 2018

North Korea's participation in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics has been the subject of remarks

from the head of the United Nations, who said North Korea should use this opportunity to

de-escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

But U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence, who is leading the U.S. delegation at the Olympics,

reaffirmed Washington's stance on the regime, saying he'll deliver the message that the

era of 'strategic patience' is over.

Won Jung-hwan reports.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged North Korea to seize the opportunity

provided by its participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea to improve

inter-Korean relations.

The UN chief made the statement on Friday during an interview with South Korean correspondents

in New York.

"Obviously that it's very important to seize this opportunity not for an escalation but

for the escalation for the opening of adequate channels of discussion for our objective to

be reached"

Guterres also expressed his hope that no acts that could escalate tensions occur after the

Olympics, and stressed the importance of talks between the United States and North Korea

to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, United States Vice President Mike Pence says that he is attending the upcoming

Winter Olympics in PyeongChang to send a simple message that the era of U.S. "strategic patience"

toward North Korea is over.

Pence, who will lead the U.S. delegation at the Olympics to cheer on Team U-S-A, made

the remarks on Friday during a speech at an America First policies event in Pittsburgh.

The U.S. vice president once again emphasized that "all options are on the table" for responding

to global nuclear threats from North Korea,… and said that Washington will keep putting

economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang until the North completely abandons its nuclear

and ballistic missile programs.

Pence is scheduled to attend a dinner at the Blue House with President Moon Jae-in on Thursday.

Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.