US urges North Korea to join direct talks after latest missile test by Pyongyang

Biden official: 'We reiterate our call for diplomacy' South Korean leader fears return to war threats of 2017 The US on Sunday made a direct appeal to North Korea to join direct talks with no preconditions about its nuclear and missile programs, after Pyongyang sent a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into space. "We believe it is completely appropriate and completely correct to start having some serious discussions," a senior Biden administration official told reporters.