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US-NKOREA-NUCLEAR-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY LEAD
Trump says N. Korea talks ‘going well,’ lashes critics
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – US President Donald Trump said
Tuesday talks with North Korea were making progress despite reports Kim Jong
Un’s regime had stepped up its nuclear program after the two leaders held a
historic summit.
“Many good conversations with North Korea-it is going well!” he tweeted.
“In the meantime, no Rocket Launches or Nuclear Testing in 8 months.
“All of Asia is thrilled. Only the Opposition Party, which includes the
Fake News, is complaining. If not for me, we would now be at War with North
Korea!”
Trump’s comments came as his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was to head
back to North Korea on Thursday to flesh out the bare bones nuclear agreement
signed by the two leaders during their summit meeting in Singapore last
month.
Trump has boasted that the statement resolved the old foes’ nuclear stand-
off, but Pompeo has been tasked with nailing down details.
There have been reports Kim’s regime has failed to honor its
denuclearization pledge after the June 12 meeting.
The Washington Post on Sunday quoted four unnamed US officials who were
briefed on intelligence findings that point to preparations for deceiving the
United States, while NBC news has said Pyongyang is increasing its nuclear
fuel production.
Citing satellite imagery, a respected monitoring group last month said
operations and infrastructure works were continuing at the North’s main
Yongbyon nuclear site, while the Trump administration itself has cited “an
unusual and extraordinary threat” from North Korea’s nuclear arsenal to
extend decade-long sanctions.
A report in Axios on Monday suggested if talks go well, Trump could invite
Kim to New York in September to continue the dialogue as the UN General
Assembly gets under way.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1805 hrs