The DPRK Foreign Ministry on August 22 issued a medium-level “spokesperson’s press statement” declaring that Pyongyang’s position of pursuing dialogue “remained unchanged” but that it was “not interested in a dialogue accompanied by military threats,” citing U.S. and South Korean military activities. The pronouncement was issued two days after U.S.-ROK joint military drills ended, despite widespread media speculation that U.S.-DPRK talks may resume after the exercises concluded. Notably, it came the day after U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun told reporters in Seoul that the U.S. was “prepared to