U.S. tells U.N. it is ready to be flexible in North Korea talks, warns against provocations

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump — with full-sized salt and pepper shakers — is flanked by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, with the smaller salt and pepper shakers used by Trump’s guests, as he hosts a lunch for ambassadors to the U.N. Security Council at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States is ready "to simultaneously take concrete steps" toward a deal aimed at getting North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs, but the Security Council must be prepared to respond to any provocations, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The 15-member Security Council met on Wednesday at the request of the United States as concerns grow internationally that North Korea could resume nuclear or long-range missile testing - suspended since 2017 - because denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled.