Donald Trump wants to end the confrontation with North Korea
The US wants to confirm that North Korea has completely given up its nuclear weapons, while affirming that it does not invade or overthrow the regime in Pyongyang.
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Trump (right) and Kim Jong-un at the first summit in Singapore in June 2018. Photo:AFP. |
"Before denuclearization can be decided, we must have a full understanding of North Korea's entire arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs through a comprehensive declaration," US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said at Stanford University in the US on January 31, according toAFP.
Biegun said the United States must reach an agreement with North Korea on monitoring mechanisms and access to experts at key sites in accordance with international standards, and ultimately ensure Pyongyang dismantles or destroys its stockpiles of fissile material, weapons, missiles, launchers and other weapons of mass destruction. Rejecting criticism that the US-North Korea statement at the first summit in Singapore was vague, Biegun said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had committed to "dismantling and destroying" all plutonium and uranium storage sites.
He also stressed that President Donald Trump wants to end the confrontation and is ready to propose a good future for US-North Korea relations, including diplomatic relations and economic aid. "We will not invade North Korea, nor will we seek to overthrow the regime," Biegun said.
North Korea has repeatedly said it wants the US to ease sanctions before starting the denuclearization process, but Biegun continued to reiterate Washington's tough stance that "sanctions will not be lifted until North Korea completely denuclearizes." He also noted that the US did not discuss withdrawing 28,500 troops from South Korea during negotiations with North Korea.
Speaking at a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 29, US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said that "North Korea is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons and production capabilities." This assessment completely contradicts Trump's view that North Korea is likely to give up its nuclear weapons.
Trump is expected to hold a second summit with Kim Jong-un later this month. The US president said on January 31 that he would announce the exact time and location early next week. "I think most of you know where the meeting is. I don't think it's a big secret. We've made tremendous progress with North Korea," Trump told reporters at the White House.
