Pompeo hopeful that denuclearization talks with N. Korea will continue

  • 5 years ago
We begin with the latest back and forth exchanges between Pyeongyang and Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday... he is hopeful nuclear talks with North Korea will continue,... after Pyeongyang reportedly said it may walk away from the negotiations.
Park Hee-jun starts us off. Despite North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui's remarks that the regime may end nuclear talks,... U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo still expressed hopes for continued dialogue.

"She left open the possibility that negotiations would continue for sure. It's the administration's desire that we continue to have conversations around this."

Speaking at a news conference on Friday, local time,... Pompeo showed confidence that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will keep his promise to discontinue nuclear and missile testing.

"In Hanoi, on multiple occasions, he spoke directly to the president and made a commitment that he would not resume nuclear testing nor would he resume missile testing. That's Chairman's Kim word. We have every expectation that he will live up to that commitment."

Pompeo also said Choe was in the wrong... to accuse him and National Security Advisor John Bolton of causing the breakdown in talks at the Hanoi summit.
Bolton also denied the accusations... that the pair had created an atmosphere of distrust and hostility during the summit.

"I think that's inaccurate, but the President is our decision-maker."

Choe also said the U.S. was "gangster-like" in their demands for denuclearization.
To that,... Pompeo said it was not the first time that North Korea had portrayed him in a negative light,... and added that the two sides have continued to have "very professional conversations" despite such accusations.
He also said he has every expectation... that they'll be able to continue such discussions.

Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.

Recommended