A senior U.S. diplomat has reiterated that Washington will continue to maintain tough sanctions on North Korea,... and has expressed concerns over the regime's repeated missile launches.<br />The official also said the U.S. will consult closely with its partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific, when it comes to the issue of deploying intermediate-range missiles throughout the region.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />U.S. State Department Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Andrea Thompson has reaffirmed Washington will continue to apply international sanctions on North Korea.<br />Thompson, who is visiting New Zealand,... held a conference call with reporters on Tuesday,... in which she expressed U.S. concerns about the North's continued missile launches.<br />This is in contrast to President Trump's response to the regime's five rounds of weapons tests since July 25th.<br />He brushed them off as (quote) "very standard."<br />Thompson also emphasized that Washington will keep working with its partners and allies as it continues to enforce UN Security Council resolutions.<br />She also said the Trump administration will stay engaged with the regime,... adding she's confident working-level discussions will resume soon.<br />On the issue of deploying intermediate-range missiles to Asia,... Thompson said the decision will be made jointly with U.S. allies in the region.<br />She stressed that such a decision will never be made unilaterally by Washington.<br />She also said any missile deployment would be for defensive purposes,... despite China's fierce opposition.<br />The U.S. has said it plans to deploy such weapons in the Asia-Pacific following its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty,... a move Beijing has vowed to respond to.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
