Senior U.S. diplomats keep upbeat about negotiation with DPRK

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- senior U.S. diplomats said here on Monday that America keeps diplomacy "very much alive" with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the leaders of the two countries remain "open to the dialogue."

"The diplomacy is still very much alive," said Stephen Biegun, U.S. special representative for the DPRK, at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference.

"We stay closely engaged with our counterparts in North Korea," the envoy added.

U.S. President Donald Trump and the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un held their second summit in Hanoi on Feb. 27-28 without reaching an agreement.

Nevertheless, the White House said later the two leaders had "very good and constructive meetings" and discussed various ways to "advance denuclearization and economic driven concepts."

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson, also attending the same event as Biegun, floated the idea of a third Trump-Kim meeting.

The two leaders "remain open to the dialogue," said Thompson, adding that "they haven't got a date on the calendar but our teams continue to work towards that."

Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have also repeatedly expressed Washington's willingness to continue the conversation with Pyongyang.