‘Trump sends his regards’: Pompeo hails progress with Kim after North Korea trip
Ahead of his visit to China, the US Secretary of State says he had ‘good talks’ with the North Korean leader, but there’s no indication yet of a second summit between Kim and Trump – and sources warn of a ‘long haul’ ahead
“I dearly hope that your latest visit, as well as the upcoming US-North Korea summit, which I hope will be happening soon, will make an irreversible, decisive progress in terms of the denuclearisation as well as the peace process,” Moon said. “Since we have the media present here, I would like to ask you to disclose anything that you can open to the public here.”
Pompeo declined that opportunity.
“I will certainly tell you in private about our conversation, but we had a good, productive conversation,” Pompeo said. “As President Trump said, there are many steps along the way and we took one of them today. It was another step forward. So this is, I think, a good outcome for all of us.”
South Korea’s presidential office later said that Kim and Pompeo had agreed to arrange a second summit between the North and the US “as soon as possible”.
In Pyongyang, Pompeo and Kim met for nearly four hours, first in a business session and then in a 90-minute luncheon that the North Korean leader hosted at a state guest house.
“It’s a very nice day that promises a good future for both countries,” Kim told Pompeo through a translator as they sat down for the meal.
“Yeah, so we had a great, great visit this morning,” Pompeo replied. “Thank you for hosting, President Trump sends his regards. And we had a very successful morning so thank you and I am looking forward to our time here at lunch as well.”
Pompeo seeks to reassure a wary Japan over North Korea negotiations
Pompeo had planned to meet Kim on the trip – his third to Pyongyang as secretary of state – but North Korean officials said Kim’s participation in the lunch had not been expected. Kim had not met Pompeo on his last visit and Trump abruptly cancelled his top diplomat’s plans to travel to North Korea last month, citing a lack of progress in the negotiations.
One US official who accompanied Pompeo said Sunday’s meeting was “better than the last time,” but added that “it’s going to be a long haul.” The official was not authorised to discuss the negotiations publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Pompeo had flown to Pyongyang from Tokyo after talks there with Japan’s prime minister during which he pledged the Trump administration would coordinate and unify its strategy for denuclearisation with allies. Japan has been wary of the initiative, but South Korea has embraced it.
Pompeo has repeatedly refused to discuss details of negotiations, including a US position on North Korea’s demand for a declared end to the Korean war and a proposal from Seoul for such a declaration to be accompanied by a shutdown of the North’s main known nuclear facility.
Mike Pompeo must navigate a minefield in South Asia
Since the denuclearisation effort got underway with a secret visit to the North by then-CIA chief Pompeo in April, there has been only limited progress, even since the June 12 Trump-Kim summit in Singapore that many had hoped would jump-start the effort.
North Korea so far has suspended nuclear and missile tests, freed three American prisoners and dismantled parts of a missile engine facility and tunnel entrances at a nuclear test site. It has not taken any steps to halt nuclear weapons or missile development.
The North also has accused Washington of making “unilateral and gangster-like” demands on denuclearisation and insisted that sanctions should be lifted before any progress in nuclear talks. US officials have thus far said sanctions will remain in place until the North’s denuclearisation is fully verified.
Pompeo said in Tokyo that it was important to hear from the Japanese leader “so we have a fully coordinated and unified view.” He also pledged that during his meeting with Kim on Sunday, he would raise the cases of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.