The United States, like other U.N. members and especially as a Security Council member, will keep its cards close to the vest in terms of its preferences until very late in the process.

It's in the interests of all countries and peoples, but most especially it's in the interests of the North Koreans themselves that the DPRK shed the albatross of its nuclear program and join the international community.

Koreans - whose food bill as a percentage of income is higher than for citizens of almost all other OECD members - will enjoy lower food prices and a greater selection of fruits and vegetables. Money saved on food can be invested in education, leisure, and cutting-edge IT services - exactly the type of sectors that need to grow to provide future generations with well-paying jobs.

We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and I look forward to working with you to clear the way and the obstacles.

The United States is eager to resume negotiations as soon as possible so that we can make rapid progress toward the elimination of North Korea's nuclear programs. Our negotiators are packed and ready to go.

Unfortunately over the past year or so, we have seen a disturbing trend of independent regulators and economic enforcement officials devoting a large amount of their energies specifically toward foreign investors and seeking credit from the public by trumpeting their actions in the media.