/ AFP PHOTO /
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make his first visit to the United Nations later this month to chair a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea, the US envoy said Monday.
The April 28 meeting on non-proliferation and North Korea will be “timely” following a US-China summit this week, US Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters.
The United States holds the presidency of the Security Council in April, giving President Donald Trump’s administration an opportunity to showcase its foreign policy priorities.
Trump will hold his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida this week, with North Korea expected to be a major topic of discussion.
Tillerson’s recent Asia tour focused on addressing the threat from North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic programs.
The US administration has complained that China is not taking action to rein in North Korea, which last year carried out two nuclear tests and more than 20 ballistic missile tests.
While at the UN, Tillerson may meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has been concerned about US moves to cut funding to the world body.
A UN spokesperson said there were discussions on arranging the first face-to-face talks between the UN chief and Tillerson, but that nothing had been scheduled yet.