Pompeo's Meeting with Senior North Korean Official Postponed

While Donald Trump, the President of the United States, stated on Wednesday, November 7, that he expects to meet with the North Korean leader early next year, the meeting scheduled for this week between Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, and a senior North Korean official has been postponed. According to Reuters, Mike Pompeo was supposed to meet with Kim Yong-chol, a senior North Korean official, in New York on Thursday to discuss preparations for the second meeting between the leaders of the two countries and the process of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, announced on Wednesday that this meeting has been postponed, without specifying the reason for the delay. However, the spokesperson indicated that if the schedule allows, they will hold the meeting again. Heather Nauert emphasized that ongoing negotiations will continue. The United States will maintain its focus on implementing the commitments agreed upon by President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un during their summit in Singapore in June. On Wednesday, Donald Trump stated at a press conference at the White House that he is pleased with the progress of negotiations with North Korea and believes that the talks are going well. Regarding his meeting with Kim Jong-un, he stated: 'I can say it will take place next year. Early next year.' Since the beginning of negotiations with the U.S., North Korea has not conducted any nuclear or missile tests. According to Reuters, North Korea criticizes the U.S. for not granting it concessions in return for the actions it has taken. Pyongyang warned on Friday that if the U.S. does not stop its sanctions campaign, it will resume the development of its nuclear program. The U.S. has stated that sanctions against Pyongyang will not be lifted until North Korea is denuclearized.