U.S. top diplomats comment on on-going denuclearization
- 6 years ago
Top U.S. officials are giving their own perspectives on how North Korea should go about dismantling its nuclear weapons....
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is confident that North Korea understood the scope of the U.S. desire for complete denuclearization.... while national security adviser John Bolton pushed Pyongyang to move quicker.
Cha Sang-mi has more.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that contacts with North Korea are ongoing,... with him in the lead of the communication.
However,... during testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Pompeo refused to give any details.
He said he was not prepared to talk about internal discussions taking place with Pyongyang, calling it inappropriate and counterproductive,... before adding that the North Koreans would be (quote) "watching this hearing."
The top U.S. diplomat said he was sure the regime knew the scope of denuclearization the Trump administration is calling for.
"The North Koreans understand the scope of the request that we're making with respect to denuclearization, and the elements that would be required in one of those elements. So, we have been pretty unambiguous in our conversations about what we mean when we say complete denuclearization."
Pompeo also confirmed that no remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War have been handed over by the North, but said he was optimistic they will be "in the not too distant future."
Meanwhile, President Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton during his visit to Moscow on Wednesday, had more to add on North Korea's denuclearization.
When asked whether Trump plans to attend the fourth Eastern Economic Summit in Vladivostok, to which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is invited, Bolton chose instead to express his anticipation for the regime to start giving up its nuclear weapons without delay.
"I don't know the answer to that. It's possible. But I do expect that following the meeting in Singapore that discussions with North Korea on the denuclearization of North Korea are going to proceed quickly. At least it's our hope and expectation."
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is confident that North Korea understood the scope of the U.S. desire for complete denuclearization.... while national security adviser John Bolton pushed Pyongyang to move quicker.
Cha Sang-mi has more.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stated that contacts with North Korea are ongoing,... with him in the lead of the communication.
However,... during testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, Pompeo refused to give any details.
He said he was not prepared to talk about internal discussions taking place with Pyongyang, calling it inappropriate and counterproductive,... before adding that the North Koreans would be (quote) "watching this hearing."
The top U.S. diplomat said he was sure the regime knew the scope of denuclearization the Trump administration is calling for.
"The North Koreans understand the scope of the request that we're making with respect to denuclearization, and the elements that would be required in one of those elements. So, we have been pretty unambiguous in our conversations about what we mean when we say complete denuclearization."
Pompeo also confirmed that no remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War have been handed over by the North, but said he was optimistic they will be "in the not too distant future."
Meanwhile, President Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton during his visit to Moscow on Wednesday, had more to add on North Korea's denuclearization.
When asked whether Trump plans to attend the fourth Eastern Economic Summit in Vladivostok, to which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is invited, Bolton chose instead to express his anticipation for the regime to start giving up its nuclear weapons without delay.
"I don't know the answer to that. It's possible. But I do expect that following the meeting in Singapore that discussions with North Korea on the denuclearization of North Korea are going to proceed quickly. At least it's our hope and expectation."
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.