U.S. calls for 'very big bites' in denuclearization talks with N. Korea
- 5 years ago
While working-level talks have started in Hanoi between North Korea and the U.S. to hammer out the details for their leaders' summit declaration,.... Washington is calling for brave and bold actions from Pyeongyang.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Moving quickly with 'very big bites' in the ongoing nuclear negotiations.
That was the call from Washington on Thursday -- urging Pyeongyang to take big and bold denuclearization measures.
A senior U.S. government official told reporters, should the regime make the right choice, all necessary incentives will be provided in return.
Out of four major topics agreed at the Singapore summit last year, the official said, North Korea's denuclearization is the main agenda for the upcoming Hanoi summit.
Washington is still not sure if Pyeongyang has really chosen to denuclearize,... but is engaged in the ongoing talks because there's a possibility.
The immediate priority for now, he says, is to freeze all of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and missile programs.
The regime will also need to provide a full inventory of its nuclear arsenal "well before" the end of the denuclearization process.
According to the official, the issue of withdrawing American troops from South Korea is not under discussion.
With less than a week to go until the summit, nuclear envoys of North Korea and the U.S. are in Hanoi, fine-tuning the details of the summit declaration.
North Korea's Special Representative for U.S. Affairs, Kim Hyok-chol, and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, met for over four hours on Thursday -- their first face-to-face since they met in Pyeongyang two weeks ago.
The key talking point is expected to be North Korea permanently dismantling its Yeongbyeon nuclear complex and having that verified.
In return, the U.S. is likely to suggest exchanging liaison offices, formally ending the Korean War... and easing sanctions on the regime.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Moving quickly with 'very big bites' in the ongoing nuclear negotiations.
That was the call from Washington on Thursday -- urging Pyeongyang to take big and bold denuclearization measures.
A senior U.S. government official told reporters, should the regime make the right choice, all necessary incentives will be provided in return.
Out of four major topics agreed at the Singapore summit last year, the official said, North Korea's denuclearization is the main agenda for the upcoming Hanoi summit.
Washington is still not sure if Pyeongyang has really chosen to denuclearize,... but is engaged in the ongoing talks because there's a possibility.
The immediate priority for now, he says, is to freeze all of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and missile programs.
The regime will also need to provide a full inventory of its nuclear arsenal "well before" the end of the denuclearization process.
According to the official, the issue of withdrawing American troops from South Korea is not under discussion.
With less than a week to go until the summit, nuclear envoys of North Korea and the U.S. are in Hanoi, fine-tuning the details of the summit declaration.
North Korea's Special Representative for U.S. Affairs, Kim Hyok-chol, and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, met for over four hours on Thursday -- their first face-to-face since they met in Pyeongyang two weeks ago.
The key talking point is expected to be North Korea permanently dismantling its Yeongbyeon nuclear complex and having that verified.
In return, the U.S. is likely to suggest exchanging liaison offices, formally ending the Korean War... and easing sanctions on the regime.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.