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North Korea,
which regularly threatens the United States and rich, democratic
South Korea, also conducted a long-range rocket launch in
February, defying U.N. sanctions.
The Security Council last month expanded those sanctions aimed
at starving North Korea of funds for its weapons program on a
resolution drafted by the United States and China.
"Iran made a fundamental choice. It decided to freeze and roll
back its nuclear program and allow inspectors to come in and
create the time and space to see if we could agree a
comprehensive agreement," Blinken told reporters in Seoul.
Iran and six world powers clinched the nuclear agreement in July
2015, which allowed for the easing of sanctions imposed by the
United States, European Union and United Nations in return for
Tehran curbing its nuclear program.
"It's our hope that the DPRK will be inspired by that example,"
said Blinken, speaking after a meeting with his Japanese and
South Korean counterparts.
DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North
Korea's official title.
Recent diplomatic progress between the United States and Cuba
and Myanmar demonstrated U.S. willingness to engage with
countries like North Korea, Blinken said.
"If a country, even one with which we've had the most profound
differences, is prepared to engage seriously and credibly in
answering the demands of the international community, we are
also prepared to engage," Blinken said.
Blinken said on Monday the United States would respond strongly
in the case of a further North Korean nuclear test, days after
the North's failed attempt to launch what the United States
believes was an intermediate-range ballistic missile.
(Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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