Washington accused the DPRK of “provocation after provocation” while urging it to abandon its nuclear arsenal The United States will not seek dialogue with North Korea or repeal heavy sanctions imposed on the country unless Pyongyang ceases alleged “provocations,” the State Department has said, vowing to continue the penalties indefinitely.

An unnamed senior State Department official has claimed the balloon was capable of “signals intelligence collection operations” US President Joe Biden has defended his administration’s response after a Chinese-made balloon crossed into American airspace, insisting the suspicious device did not represent a “major breach.” While lawmakers in both parties have criticized the delay in shooting…

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