Pompeo: Sanctions Will Be Lifted After North Korea's Denuclearization

The U.S. Secretary of State, during a meeting with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, rejected North Korea's official media report regarding a "step-by-step" denuclearization process, stating that sanctions against Pyongyang will be lifted only after this process is completed. Following the historic meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, North Korea officially announced a "deal" with Trump regarding a "step-by-step" denuclearization process. North Korean state media reflect the views and statements of the country's leadership. However, the U.S. Secretary of State claims that Trump has been "extraordinarily clear" about the denuclearization arrangements, adding that North Korea will denuclearize and "only after that will sanctions be lifted." Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, discussed what has been described as maintaining the "opportunity created by the Pyongyang-Washington negotiations" with Taro Kono and Kang Kyung-wha, the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea. Following this meeting, all three countries committed to cooperate in the denuclearization process of North Korea. The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that Pyongyang is committed to denuclearization, although he added, "this is a process, and it is not easy." Mr. Pompeo also stated that the United States is committed to a verifiable, irreversible, and complete denuclearization of North Korea. At the beginning of the trilateral meetings in Seoul, Ms. Kang Kyung-wha expressed hope that the "current opportunity will be preserved." Japanese media had previously reported that the Japanese foreign minister would emphasize Tokyo's position that the denuclearization process of North Korea should occur while maintaining pressure on the country. This means that the Japanese government also prefers the option of lifting sanctions only after complete denuclearization over the "step-by-step" approach. Mike Pompeo, in addition to his counterparts, also met and discussed with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who stated, "There are significant differences in views regarding the outcome of the negotiations (between the U.S. and North Korea), but the most important reality is that this meeting helped to alleviate the threat of nuclear war and long-range missiles from the entire world, including the people of the United States, Japan, and China." Mike Pompeo is scheduled to travel to Beijing after his meetings in Seoul. This trip will be his first as U.S. Secretary of State to China. Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed this news, adding that Mike Pompeo is expected to provide details about the Trump-Kim negotiations to Chinese officials.