The U.S. Has a 'One-Year Plan' for Dismantling North Korean Nuclear Weapons and Missiles

Following reports from American media about 'Pyongyang's efforts to deceive Washington,' the U.S. National Security Advisor states that the Trump administration has a plan to dismantle North Korean nuclear weapons and missiles. John Bolton, National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, said on Sunday, July 1, in an interview with CBS, 'We have developed a plan.' He added that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will soon discuss this matter with North Korean officials; a conversation that will actually focus on the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles within a one-year timeframe. Bolton's remarks come amid reports from U.S. media over the past three days regarding North Korea's efforts to conceal and deceive the U.S. These reports cite U.S. government security officials. The Washington Post, on July 1, quoted some U.S. security officials as saying that North Korea does not intend to fully relinquish its nuclear arsenal and is seeking ways to hide some of its capabilities and weapons. A day earlier, NBC News reported, citing several U.S. security officials, that North Korea has several secret nuclear facilities and is increasing the production of enriched uranium for use in nuclear weapons. The Associated Press also reported on July 2 that a U.S. official confirmed the report published in the Washington Post, adding that this assessment has been provided by the intelligence community over the past weeks. Bolton emphasized that his administration is aware of North Korea's history in negotiations from decades ago but refrained from commenting directly on intelligence assessments. The National Security Advisor stated that the plan his administration has developed encompasses all of North Korea's chemical, biological, nuclear weapons, and ballistic missile programs within a one-year timeframe. However, the Associated Press, quoting Stanford University professors, stated that considering North Korea's current capabilities, dismantling its weapons will be a complex task. One Stanford professor, Siegfried Hecker, a seasoned researcher and expert on North Korea's nuclear program, proposed a 10-year roadmap for denuclearization, although some other researchers predicted a shorter timeframe. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed an agreement on June 12 during a historic meeting in Singapore to take steps toward denuclearization of the peninsula.