Amid stalled nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea... it seems that Washington will be sending its top diplomat again to Pyongyang... with hopes of taking the next step foward.
Our Lee Seung-jae reports.
In an interview with ABC News' "This Week", on Sunday,... John Bolton said the Trump administration expects U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Pyongyang "soon",... making his fourth visit to the communist state.
With the top U.S. diplomat unable to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his third visit last month,... Bolton says the administration expects Pompeo will hold direct talks with Kim this time around.
The purpose of the visit, according to Bolton,... will be to urge progress on negotiations to denuclearize North Korea,... adding the U.S. expects it to happen within a year.
Bolton also referred to the historic Singapore summit between President Trump and Kim in June,... saying the process of denuclearization remains their highest priority.
During a cabinet meeting led by President Trump last Thursday,... Pompeo said he hopes there can be a "big step" in nuclear negotiations with North Korea "before too long."
Pompeo emphasized that during the many months of negotiations, the regime conducted no nuclear or missile tests.
Adding that Washington is engaging in dialogue with Pyongyang for a brighter future for North Koreans,... Pompeo has continually been expressing his hope for a breakthrough.
With Pompeo's visit expected in the near future,... both South Korea and the U.S. hope the trip will breathe fresh life into the denuclearization process,.. which seems to have stalled in recent weeks.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.