After Iran deal, U.S. says ready for 'authentic, credible' negotiations with N. Korea

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Yonhap) -- The Iranian nuclear deal shows the U.S. willingness to engage even countries "with long-standing differences," the State Department said Tuesday, stressing the U.S. is ready for negotiations as long as Pyongyang is serious about denuclearization. State Department spokesman John Kirby made the comment after Iran and six world powers announced a historic deal that calls for significantly limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the United States and others lifting economic sanctions that have stifled the Middle Eastern nation's economy. "Progress in the nuclear talks with Iran clearly demonstrates our willingness to engage countries with whom the United States has long-standing differences," Kirby said in reponse to a Yonhap News Agency question on the Iranian deal's possible implications on the North Korean standoff. "We are prepared for negotiations, provided that they are authentic and credible, get at the entirety of the North's nuclear program, and result in concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization," he said. "Pyongyang's attempts to engage in dialogue while keeping critical elements of its weapons program running are unacceptable." Kirby also said that the U.S. will judge North Korea by its actions, not its words. "Denuclearization remains our top priority. We remain in close contact with the other Five-Party partners on our shared goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner," he said. Six-party talks aimed at resolving the North Korean impasse have been idled since late 2008. North Korea has demanded unconditional resumption of negotiations and the U.S. has maintained that Pyongyang must first take concrete steps demonstrating its denuclearization commitments. While the six-party talks have been on hold, the North has bolstered its nuclear capabilities and stockpile, conducting its second and third nuclear tests in 2009 and 2013. Some experts now warn that the communist nation's nuclear arsenal could expand to up to 100 bombs by 2020. jschang@yna.co.kr (END)