Pompeo says talks to be led by senior diplomats from N. Korea, U.S.
- 5 years ago
Some familiar, but some not so familiar faces especially from the North Korean side will gather when North Korea and the U.S. restart their working level talks on denuclearization.
And a key member from the U.S. side believes that this time,... Pyeongyang and Washington have the incentive to make significant process in a timely way.
Won Jung-hwan has more.
Right after what was essentially a third bilateral summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Freedom House on Sunday,… President Trump said lower-level talks of some kind will begin soon.
"What's going to happen is over the next two or three weeks, teams are going to start working to see, whether or not they can do something. Very big stuff, pretty complicated, but not as complicated as people think."
Trump said he hopes the U.S. and North Korea can reach what he called a "comprehensive deal," reiterating that "speed is not the object."
The new talks, he said, will be led by U.S. nuclear envoy Steven Biegun and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Just after President Trump's announcement,… Pompeo confirmed he expects denuclearization negotiations with North Korea to resume in mid-July.
Pompeo said he's excited about getting back to the negotiating table,... which he thinks has a clear path forward this time.
"We're hopeful. I think I said to some of you, I may have said it from the podium a few weeks back, we thought there might be this opportunity, and the president by getting together with Chairman Kim today broke through and was able to get us the opportunity to get us back to the negotiating table,... we think we have a jumping off point for these discussions which will put us in a place where we can truly evaluate if there is any clear path forward. Having listened to Chairman Kim today I think there is."
Without elaborating much other than saying "one of a couple people,"… regarding the lineup of the members,… he explained the U.S. negotiating team will be led by Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun,... while the North Koreans will be led by officials from the foreign ministry,... just like the working-level meeting which took place before Trump met Kim.
There's speculation Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will take charge,... amid reports Kim Yong-chol and Kim Hyok-chol the two top negotiators for the Hanoi summit were punished for the lack of a deal in Vietnam.
The breakdown was caused by a difference between U.S. demands for complete denuclearization and North Korea's demands for sanctions relief.
But this time, following the abrupt, but historic meeting at Panmunjom on Sunday,… the working-level members are confident negotiations will bring somewhat fruitful results.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
And a key member from the U.S. side believes that this time,... Pyeongyang and Washington have the incentive to make significant process in a timely way.
Won Jung-hwan has more.
Right after what was essentially a third bilateral summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Freedom House on Sunday,… President Trump said lower-level talks of some kind will begin soon.
"What's going to happen is over the next two or three weeks, teams are going to start working to see, whether or not they can do something. Very big stuff, pretty complicated, but not as complicated as people think."
Trump said he hopes the U.S. and North Korea can reach what he called a "comprehensive deal," reiterating that "speed is not the object."
The new talks, he said, will be led by U.S. nuclear envoy Steven Biegun and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Just after President Trump's announcement,… Pompeo confirmed he expects denuclearization negotiations with North Korea to resume in mid-July.
Pompeo said he's excited about getting back to the negotiating table,... which he thinks has a clear path forward this time.
"We're hopeful. I think I said to some of you, I may have said it from the podium a few weeks back, we thought there might be this opportunity, and the president by getting together with Chairman Kim today broke through and was able to get us the opportunity to get us back to the negotiating table,... we think we have a jumping off point for these discussions which will put us in a place where we can truly evaluate if there is any clear path forward. Having listened to Chairman Kim today I think there is."
Without elaborating much other than saying "one of a couple people,"… regarding the lineup of the members,… he explained the U.S. negotiating team will be led by Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun,... while the North Koreans will be led by officials from the foreign ministry,... just like the working-level meeting which took place before Trump met Kim.
There's speculation Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will take charge,... amid reports Kim Yong-chol and Kim Hyok-chol the two top negotiators for the Hanoi summit were punished for the lack of a deal in Vietnam.
The breakdown was caused by a difference between U.S. demands for complete denuclearization and North Korea's demands for sanctions relief.
But this time, following the abrupt, but historic meeting at Panmunjom on Sunday,… the working-level members are confident negotiations will bring somewhat fruitful results.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.