Pompeo Expresses Hope for Results from Second Meeting of US and North Korean Leaders in Vietnam

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed hope on Thursday, February 21, that a "historic" step would be taken during the second meeting between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam. The second summit is set to take place next week in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Mr. Pompeo stated in an interview with NBC that the American people should know that the US has imposed the toughest sanctions against North Korea and that pressure will not be eased until they are assured that the risk has been fundamentally reduced. He emphasized that he hopes a "historic step" will be taken during the leaders' meeting next week. In response to a question about the possibility of an agreement on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Pompeo said that to ensure the safety of the American people, the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea must first be reduced, and then efforts can be made towards establishing peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and a better future for the North Korean people. In this context, US officials stated on Thursday that Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are seeking a mutual understanding of the concept of denuclearization at the upcoming summit. According to Reuters, US officials are attempting to lower expectations for the outcome of this meeting, and Donald Trump has explicitly stated that this will not be his last meeting with Kim Jong Un. Critics of the US President argue that he gave too many concessions to North Korea simply by meeting with its leader last year. Such criticisms may resurface after the Vietnam summit. However, US officials assert that the country is determined to persuade the North Korean leader to accept nuclear disarmament, even though Kim Jong Un has not personally made such a decision yet. One US official said, "I don't know if North Korea has decided to disarm yet, but since we believe there is still a possibility, we will continue to engage with that country." The two countries have not agreed on the precise meaning of nuclear disarmament in previous negotiations and meetings. Kim Jong Un agreed to take steps towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula at last year's summit in Singapore, which could be interpreted as the withdrawal of US forces equipped with nuclear weapons from the region and the dismantling of the protective umbrella against nuclear weapons in South Korea. In contrast, the US government demands the cessation of all nuclear activities and missile programs from North Korea. A US official told Reuters, "The ultimate goal is the denuclearization of North Korea. This is the essence of the agreement between the two sides and the main goal of President Trump at the next summit. This is an important step towards the ultimate goal." He added that the US government will emphasize the cessation of the production and use of all weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, as well as the establishment of a "roadmap" as a precondition for continuing negotiations. According to a US official, the withdrawal of US forces from South Korea, which number about 28,000, is not on the agenda of these negotiations. He added that US sanctions against that country will continue with the aim of encouraging North Korea to take effective actions towards nuclear disarmament.