In Tillerson’s China Stop, Questions on North Korea but Slim Chance of Claritybr New York Times said that When we do,br But it is an exercise both the United States and China must go through, she said, until the United States decides whetherbr it is simply going to live with North Korea’s status as a nuclear state whose weapons can reach American shores.br Mr. Tillerson himself has been inconsistent, insisting months agobr that Mr. Kim must first give up all his weapons, then arguing in August that he must simply pause their nuclear and missile testing.br But both Mr. Tillerson and General McMaster have rejectedbr that step, arguing that to do it now, with the North’s weapons and delivery systems so advanced, would be to acknowledge the North as a nuclear power, even if there was vague talk of eventually reaching an accord over the ultimate status of the North’s weapons.