Trump administration has ‘eyes wide open’ on N Korea: Pompeo

In this file photo released by the US Government on April 26, 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) shakes hands with the former CIA Director, now the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in Pyongyang over the 2018 Easter weekend. (Via photo)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the administration of President Donald Trump has its “eyes wide open” when it comes to North Korea, referring to the country’s nuclear and missile programs.

“This administration has its eyes wide open. We know the history. We know the risks. We’re going to be very different. We’re going to negotiate in a different way than has been done before,” Pompeo told ABC News on Sunday.

“We use the word irreversible with great intention. We’re going to require those steps that demonstrate that denuclearization is going to be achieved. We’re not going to make promises. We’re not going to take words. We’re going to look for actions and deeds,” he added.

Trump said on Saturday that he had a "long and very good talk" with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

He said that details of his potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were being finalized.

The North Korean leader agreed for a meeting with Trump after Pompeo met with Kim secretively in North Korea.

Kim and the Moon signed a joint declaration on Friday agreeing to work for the "complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" following their historic summit.

During their first summit in more than a decade, the two leaders stated that they would seek an agreement to establish "permanent" and "solid" peace on the Korean peninsula.

The landmark declaration also includes pledges to pursue military arms reduction, cease "hostile acts," turn their fortified border into a "peace zone," and seek multilateral talks with other nations, such as the US.

During the meeting on Friday with Moon, Kim reportedly said he would give up his nuclear weapons if the US pledges not to invade his country.

“I know the Americans are inherently disposed against us, but when they talk with us, they will see that I am not the kind of person who would shoot nuclear weapons to the south, over the Pacific or at the United States,” Kim said, according to South Korean spokesman Yoon Young-chan.

Trump on Friday said that Americans should be "proud" of the progress being made towards establishing peace on the Korean peninsula.

He hailed the meeting between the two Korean leaders as an end to the Korean War, which ended in 1953 when the two countries signed the ceasefire – the Korean Armistice Agreement.  


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