Secretary Pompeo travels to Japan for talks with US allies

The US Secretary of State met the North Korean leader during his two previous visits to Pyongyang. Photo: AP

Pompeo plans to meet his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on July 8, amid growing doubts about Pyongyang's intentions to denuclearize.

This is Mr Pompeo's first visit to Japan since taking office earlier this year, as part of his trip aimed at discussing a shared commitment to "the complete, verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea".

Before going to Japan, the US Secretary of State held discussions with North Korean officials in the capital Pyongyang to outline details of the denuclearization process.

However, the US State Department said Mr Pompeo did not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in contrast to his previous visits in April and May.

The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan and South Korea are trying to show the strength of their trilateral relationship and maintain unity in resolving the North Korea issue. The last trilateral meeting took place on June 14 in Seoul, two days after the historic US-North Korea summit.

The last time the US-South Korea-Japan trilateral meeting took place was on June 14 in Seoul, two days after the historic US-North Korea summit. Photo: Getty

Earlier, Secretary of State Pompeo affirmed that discussions with his North Korean counterpart on destroying Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal were "very productive".

However, Mr. Pompeo did not reveal details to the press about how North Korea plans to implement its commitment to "denuclearization".

According to the US Secretary of State, the exchanges between the two sides revolved around "complex" content, but the two sides made "progress on most of the core issues". However, there are still some things that both Washington and Pyongyang need to continue to complete.

Speaking to reporters before leaving Pyongyang, Secretary of State Pompeo said he had "spent a lot of time" discussing the time frame and list of North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities./.