North Korean Leader Says Pyongyang is 'Committed to Denuclearization'

The official North Korean news agency, quoting the country's leader, states that Pyongyang is committed to the denuclearization process on the peninsula. These remarks come just days before another meeting of the leaders of the two Koreas, amid ongoing doubts about North Korea's disarmament process. The North Korean news agency published Kim Jong-un's statements during a meeting with a delegation from the South on September 6, where he said, 'The North and South must increase their efforts towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.' Kim Jong-un stated that 'the elimination of the risks and threats of war and transforming the Korean Peninsula into a cradle of peace, without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, has not changed.' The statements released by the official North Korean news agency and the South Korean state news agency come as the Associated Press reports that Kim Jong-un expressed his dissatisfaction with 'external skepticism' and called for 'good faith actions.' Although Mr. Kim's expression of 'commitment' to denuclearization is not new, it may raise hopes for the finalization of this process. Today, it was announced that the leaders of the two Koreas are set to meet and discuss for the third time soon. However, concerns about North Korea's denuclearization process and doubts regarding the leader's 'intent' remain unresolved, which has effectively prevented U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to North Korea from taking place for now. According to the South Korean state news agency, the leaders of the two Koreas have decided to meet and discuss between September 18 and 20 (in two weeks). South Korean President Moon Jae-in is set to travel north for these negotiations. Chang Wiyang, head of the National Security Office of the South Korean President, who traveled to Pyongyang yesterday, stated at a press conference that 'there will be specific discussions about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula' during the upcoming negotiations. According to the South Korean delegation, the North Korean leader emphasized both his commitment to denuclearization and cooperation with the United States. U.S. officials have not yet reacted to these statements. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, announced on August 24 that he had asked Mike Pompeo, his Secretary of State, not to travel to North Korea for now. Pompeo was supposed to go to Pyongyang this month. Trump stated that the reason for his decision was that no significant progress had been seen in negotiations with North Korea to eliminate nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Trump also criticized China for not aiding in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula due to Washington's tough stance on tariffs. This drew a response from Beijing, with a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stating that these remarks are 'inaccurate' and that they take the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula 'very seriously.' In August, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that there were no signs of a halt in North Korean nuclear activities, and a major monitoring group reported, citing satellite images, that Pyongyang had stopped dismantling a key missile facility, while the Washington Post and Reuters stated that satellite images indicated new activities at North Korean intercontinental missile production facilities. In the same month, the North Korean government accused the U.S. of seeking to impose international sanctions against the country despite actions indicating Pyongyang's goodwill, and that if 'outdated methods' continue, there will be no progress in disarmament.