U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, talks to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their meeting in Pyongyang, Sunday (KST). Screengrab of Pompeo's Twitter

Pompeo says he had 'productive conversation' with Kim

By Kim Yoo-chul

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed "progress" in discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, Sunday (KST), saying the two had a "productive conversation" in taking steps toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

"I don't have much to add. I would certainly tell you in private about our conversation. But we had a good productive conversation. As President Trump said there are many steps along the way and we took one of them today with another step forward. This is I think a good outcome for all of us," Pompeo told President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae late Sunday.

Pompeo said Kim had agreed to hold a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump "as early as possible," adding working-level discussions between the two countries to set a date and location would take place soon.

President Moon responded that the second summit between Trump and Kim would be "decisive progress" in Pyongyang's denuclearization process.

"Follow-up and further measures to be taken by North Korea on the country's denuclearization and ways to allow U.S. government officials to be part of the inspection process were also discussed during Pompeo's meeting with Kim. The two also discussed possible corresponding measures that the United States may take," Yoon Young-chan, chief presidential secretary said in a written briefing after Pompeo's briefing of Moon.

Kim Jong-un expresses belief in 'good program' for 2nd summit with Trump: KCNA 2018-10-08 09:59  |  North Korea
The U.S. state secretary arrived at a U.S. air base in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, around 5:15 p.m. after his brief trip to the North. The visit, which had previously been delayed due to the lack of progress in disarmament talks, was Pompeo's fourth.

Additional details of the Pompeo-Kim meeting were unknown; and Cheong Wa Dae did not elaborate further.

The high-profile U.S. official had about a two-hour face-to-face meeting with Kim and later they had a luncheon for 90 minutes at Paekhwawon State Guesthouse.

Shortly after arriving at Osan, Pompeo posted a photo of himself walking with Kim on twitter saying; "We continue to make progress on agreements made at Singapore Summit." Speaking to Pompeo through an interpreter, the North Korean leader said; "Today is a very good day to promise a good future between the United States and North Korea."

The trip to Pyongyang comes at a crucial time following Kim's affirmation of his commitment toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula if Washington provided a "concession" in return.

Since then, however, the United States has been dissatisfied with the North's slow progress toward denuclearization, and demanded Pyongyang show concrete irreversible measures regarding ending its nuclear programs, including declaring a list of its nuclear inventory and missile facilities.

On a related note, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said Pompeo may have asked Kim for a specific timeline regarding denuclearization.

It remains to be seen what "specific corresponding measures" Pompeo offered to the North Korean leader; but some political analysts in Seoul said these could mean declaring that hostilities between Washington and Pyongyang were over.

North Korea also appeared to have pushed its demands for economic sanctions to be eased.

To keep the momentum for nuclear negotiations alive, Seoul has also been asked to help to narrow the gap between Washington and Pyongyang. Moon has been placing emphasis on confidence-building measures to be taken first, followed later by the more delicate steps toward denuclearization.