North Korea slams 'gangster-like' U.S. demands after satisfied Pompeo leaves

[rooster59]

North Korea slams 'gangster-like' U.S. demands after satisfied Pompeo leaves

By Hyonhee Shin and David Brunnstrom

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, and Kim Yong Chol, left, a North Korean senior ruling party official and former intelligence chief, arrive for a lunch at the Park Hwa Guest House in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, July 7, 2018. Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters

 

SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea accused the United States on Saturday of making "gangster-like" demands in talks over its nuclear programme, contradicting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hours after he left saying the old enemies had made progress on key issues.

 

During a day and a half of talks in Pyongyang, Pompeo had sought to hammer out details on how to dismantle North Korea's nuclear programmes, including a timeline.

 

As he departed, he said he had made progress on "almost all of the central issues," although work remained to be done.

 

Hours later, Pyongyang gave a much more negative assessment, saying Washington had broken the spirit of last month's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

 

"The U.S. side came up only with its unilateral and gangster-like demand for denuclearization," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

 

He said Pompeo's delegation insisted on unilateral complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, known as CVID. He argued instead for both sides to take a series of simultaneous steps as a "shortcut" to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

 

"The high-level talks this time brought us in a dangerous situation where we may be shaken in our unshakable will for denuclearization, rather than consolidating trust between the DPRK and the U.S."

 

There was no immediate comment on the KCNA statement from the State Department or the White House. The contrasting comments raised questions over whether North Korea is committed to abandoning the nuclear programmes it has developed for decades and has seen as key to its survival.

 

'LIKE A ROBBER'

 

Trump and Kim pledged at their June 12 summit meeting in Singapore to move toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Trump has declared on Twitter that North Korea no longer poses a nuclear threat.

 

But Kim has yet to provide details of how or when North Korea might dismantle a weapons programme that Trump has vowed will not be allowed to threaten the United States. Also, leaked U.S. intelligence findings concluded North Korea does not intend to completely give up its nuclear programme.

 

On Saturday, Pompeo said he spent "a good deal of time" in the latest talks discussing a denuclearization timeline and the declaration of the North's nuclear and missile facilities.

 

"These are complicated issues but we made progress on almost all of the central issues. Some places a great deal of progress, other places there's still more work to be done," he said, according to a pool report from U.S. reporters who accompanied him to Pyongyang.

 

Some U.S. experts on North Korea said the ongoing disputes show the risk of Washington granting premature concessions to Pyongyang. Many were surprised when Trump agreed at the summit in Singapore to end joint military exercises with South Korea.

 

"The North Koreans are in the game to get, not to give," said Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until last year.

 

"They have gotten the U.S. to back off military exercises, back off using 'CVID', back off the 'Libya model' of rapid denuclearization, back off on human rights, and to look the other way while China relaxes sanctions implementation. So why wouldn't Kim Jong Un dig in his heels with Pompeo and press his advantage?"

 

Abraham Denmark, a senior defence official for East Asia under former President Barack Obama, said: "This is a rejection of U.S. demands for unilateral denuclearization by North Korea, and a clear message that the U.S. will need to give up more to make progress."

 

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Pompeo had been "very firm" on three basic goals: complete denuclearization of North Korea, security assurances and repatriation of remains of Americans killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

 

Pompeo said the two sides agreed to hold discussions on July 12 on repatriation, and also discussed "modalities" for destruction of a missile engine testing facility.

 

KCNA said the North also offered to discuss declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War marking next month's anniversary of the armistice agreement, but the U.S. side showed little interest, giving "certain conditions and excuses."

 

Nauert said the July 12 meeting, along the border between North and South Korea, would be at working level and involve U.S. Defence Department officials.

 

Pompeo did not meet Kim as he had done on two previous visits to North Korea this year, but handed over a letter to him from Trump.

 

A letter from Kim to Trump was also delivered to Pompeo through Kim Yong Chol, a top North Korean party official and former spy agency chief, who was Pompeo's interlocutor and played a key role in arranging the Singapore summit.

 

In the letter, Kim Jong Un expressed his "expectation and conviction" that future dialogue would further consolidate the sentiments of good faith between the two leaders, KCNA said.

 

"We still cherish our good faith in President Trump," the spokesman said.

 

'EQUALLY COMMITTED'

 

Asked about reports based on U.S. intelligence assessments that North Korea had continued to develop its nuclear facilities even while engaging in dialogue, Pompeo said:

 

"We talked about what the North Koreans are continuing to do and how it's the case that we can get our arms around achieving what Chairman Kim and President Trump both agreed to, which is the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

 

"Chairman Kim is ... still committed" to that goal, Pompeo said, and he reiterated that Trump was "committed to a brighter future for North Korea".

 

The U.S.-North Korea talks are being closely watched across Asia. Pompeo is due to meet in Tokyo on Sunday with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-08

[Jingthing]

Little Rocket Man?

 

More like Goodbye Yellowbrick Road of the total delusion of thinking the Singapore summit accomplished anything except for a PR win for NK. 

[LomSak27]

This is exactly what NK has always done. This is their play book. Ask South Korea about it.

Not that it matters, Humpty Dumpty is off to meet with Prince Vlad and declare "Peace in our time"  The cold war has been over for thirty years but that won't stop the ADD senile one tweeting about a diplomatic coup. WooHoo!

[wayned]

What did we expect the outcome would be? Pompeo went there with the Bolton "Libya Model" which he says should be able to be completed in a year and tried to ram it down their throats.  I have never heard anything about the US's side of the demilitarization plan, only Bolton's unilateral plan for NK. The only way that there's a chance of anything positive happening is a step by step agreement where if the Koreans do something then the US does something in return, both CVIR operations until the Korean peninsula is denuclearized as defined by both North Korea and the US.  China knows it, Russia knows it, I even know it,  and the US should know it!  Can anybody trust Trump or for that matter anyone that replaces him?

[Lungstib]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

"The U.S. side came up only with its unilateral and gangster-like demand for denuclearization,"

Perhaps Mr. Kim had made the stupid presumption that BOTH sides were going to abandon nuclear arms. Isn't that usually the aim of these peace talks?

[attrayant]

1 hour ago, Lungstib said:

Perhaps Mr. Kim had made the stupid presumption that BOTH sides were going to abandon nuclear arms. Isn't that usually the aim of these peace talks?

 

That's exactly the point.  Trump went into the Singapore meeting with no goals or objectives, and came away from it with exactly the same thing.  

[Silurian]

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

 

I saw a man
He dreamt of a nobel prize
He swore only he could make a deal
Amongst his many lies
He said Kim Jong Un
I love so dear
I just know of his truthful promises
All of Kim's nukes will disappear
 

Edited July 8, 2018 by Silurian

[Boon Mee]

Guess little rocket man is going to be going without his Big Mack or Whopper a little longer. 

[bristolboy]

2 hours ago, Lungstib said:

Perhaps Mr. Kim had made the stupid presumption that BOTH sides were going to abandon nuclear arms. Isn't that usually the aim of these peace talks?

Well it would have been a stupid presumption considering that it was never mooted. Whatever pejorative adjectives may be used to describe Kim, I don't think "stupid" should be one of them.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Guess little rocket man is going to be going without his Big Mack or Whopper a little longer. 

Guess big bullsh***r is going to be without his Nobel Prize a while longer, too.

[mfd101]

All happening as predicted & on time. Clockwork precision.

 

Initiative remains with NK. Usofa's only options are to reimpose strong economic sanctions (including Chinese ones, if still possible!) or reinstate military exercises with SK - either or both of which would mean loss of face for DT. Allround fiasco for Usofa.

[Proboscis]

I supposed there is a subtle difference betweeen "like a gangster" and is a gangster - I mean, a regime that assassinates relatives of the big boss in the airports of foreign countries, makes counterfeit currency, has a record of kidnapping completely innocent people from other countries and so on is already a gangster regime.

 

But Trump does not know that. As far as he is concerned, Kim is "little rocket man" and that is that. If he had listened to advice and read a little of the recent history of North Korea, he would know how that regime behaves. But, the self-styled master of the deal does not bother with such niceties. Well, who looks like the fool now, "big idiot?"

[Kiwiken]

There is no change. Nothing has been achieved. NK still has its nuclear weapons. The Korean Peninsula is still in the same stalemate as when the Korean war was adjourned. You can strengthen sanctions. NK will resume testing of both missiles and Nukes.

You can from the USA side threaten or even use Military Force against NK.

If you are an American Citizen are you willing to risk the off chance it is your City that is irradiated or destroyed?

What of the millions of innocent North and South Koreans who would suffer in any conflict.

Serious negotiation is the only way.

You cant walk in and demand concessions without being willing offer something yourself.

It is easy to wage war or wave the big stick but is a much harder task to construct lasting peace

[Tug]

Ho hum let me see the art of the deal pissoff and start a trade war with the one you need to help you with Kim get nothing in wrighting throw away a major bargaining chip better stick with locking up helpless toddlers oh I forgot you screwed that up as well tired of winning yet?

[Morch]

1 hour ago, Kiwiken said:

There is no change. Nothing has been achieved. NK still has its nuclear weapons. The Korean Peninsula is still in the same stalemate as when the Korean war was adjourned. You can strengthen sanctions. NK will resume testing of both missiles and Nukes.

You can from the USA side threaten or even use Military Force against NK.

If you are an American Citizen are you willing to risk the off chance it is your City that is irradiated or destroyed?

What of the millions of innocent North and South Koreans who would suffer in any conflict.

Serious negotiation is the only way.

You cant walk in and demand concessions without being willing offer something yourself.

It is easy to wage war or wave the big stick but is a much harder task to construct lasting peace

 

Meeting with Kim was a concession.

Calling of military drills with SK was a concession.

NK gave away nothing.

 

[Jingthing]

Ho hum let me see the art of the deal pissoff and start a trade war with the one you need to help you with Kim get nothing in wrighting throw away a major bargaining chip better stick with locking up helpless toddlers oh I forgot you screwed that up as well tired of winning yet?

He didn't even write the Art of the Deal. The ghost writer that did deeply regrets helping him create that myth about himself because getting close to him he realized he is a mentally deranged con man. So what did people expect from such a hot orange mess?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Briggsy]

As virtually everybody predicted, the ridiculous summit with no preparation, no goals was just a brilliant photo opportunity, self-congratulating, distraction mission by Trump probably approved by the Kremlin. No details were released before or after the meeting about how the situation would specifically be improved. Fox News went into hyperdrive, stating Trump was the statesman of the century and should get the Nobel Peace Prize. His supporters lapped it up despite the vast majority of them not knowing where North Korea was on a map but overnight they all reprogrammed their brains from "Kim Jong Un very bad" to "Kim Jong Un okay guy".

 

Seasoned observers predicted the actual outcome would be nothing except a legitimizing of Kim as an international leader. That is what has happened. Lord knows what else Trump gave away in secret to Kim other than the announced cancelling of military manoeuvres.

[ramrod711]

3 hours ago, mfd101 said:

All happening as predicted & on time. Clockwork precision.

 

Initiative remains with NK. Usofa's only options are to reimpose strong economic sanctions (including Chinese ones, if still possible!) or reinstate military exercises with SK - either or both of which would mean loss of face for DT. Allround fiasco for Usofa.

I don't disagree, however, as you point out, Chinese aid may no longer be possible. I know that if I were China and Trump was threatening to starve my people with his tariffs on soi beans, I would tell him to pound sand. If you want help with N Korea put an end to your infantile trade war.

[The Theory]

There is no such smooth negotiation with “Koreans”!!! Since he learn his lessons from Russia and China obviously it would become even worse. 

[IAMHERE]

What is the American 'chips' that can be used to bargain with Kim? He is living the dream, has all the wine, women, cigars, and red meat he can possibly use. His people? ROFL

There isn't anything that the west has to offer Kim. The USA shouldbe bargaining with China as to what they want to not retaliate when the west bombs NK. 

[sirineou]

4 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

What is the American 'chips' that can be used to bargain with Kim? He is living the dream, has all the wine, women, cigars, and red meat he can possibly use. His people? ROFL

There isn't anything that the west has to offer Kim. The USA shouldbe bargaining with China as to what they want to not retaliate when the west bombs NK. 

How about security ?

[Happyman58]

Maybe America should step back and let North and South Korea work out a peace deal. After all, it is there country The Vietnam war could have been avoided and 58,000 Americans did not have to die. Please to this day and if someone can tell me What actually did the Vietnam War achieve? The communists are in power and life goes on and lots of good boys died for what? What was the brainwashing they come up with to justify why they were fighting the war Oh that's right " If the communists won in Vietnam they would take over all of Asia? That was 40years ago and I can't see any Vietnamese taking over any countries. In fact, its the multinationals breaking their necks to do business with Vietnam

[bristolboy]

8 minutes ago, Happyman58 said:

Maybe America should step back and let North and South Korea work out a peace deal. After all, it is there country The Vietnam war could have been avoided and 58,000 Americans did not have to die. Please to this day and if someone can tell me What actually did the Vietnam War achieve? The communists are in power and life goes on and lots of good boys died for what? What was the brainwashing they come up with to justify why they were fighting the war Oh that's right " If the communists won in Vietnam they would take over all of Asia? That was 40years ago and I can't see any Vietnamese taking over any countries. In fact, its the multinationals breaking their necks to do business with Vietnam

You really think the Korean situation is comparable to the Vietname situation. Is that because the words North and South figure in both? South Korea is nothing like South Vietnam. South Korea is an advanced economic dynamo. South Vietnam was a corrupt, agricultural nation. North Vietnam was communist, but it wasn't ruled by a family dynasty and never approached the brutality and paranoia evinced the the rulers of North Korea.

[mok199]

Kim just attended the summit for the endless seafood buffet...

[bushdoctor]

12 hours ago, Proboscis said:

I supposed there is a subtle difference betweeen "like a gangster" and is a gangster - I mean, a regime that assassinates relatives of the big boss in the airports of foreign countries, makes counterfeit currency, has a record of kidnapping completely innocent people from other countries and so on is already a gangster regime.

 

But Trump does not know that. As far as he is concerned, Kim is "little rocket man" and that is that. If he had listened to advice and read a little of the recent history of North Korea, he would know how that regime behaves. But, the self-styled master of the deal does not bother with such niceties. Well, who looks like the fool now, "big idiot?"

Do you really believe Trump doesn’t know about North Korea’s past? That’s too funny. 

 

 

[bristolboy]

8 hours ago, bushdoctor said:

Do you really believe Trump doesn’t know about North Korea’s past? That’s too funny. 

 

 

Well, he's certainly ignorant about North Korea's present.

Of course you may believe that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat and that the problem is solved.

Or that North Korea has already destroyed 4 of its big test sites.

 

But I must say, your defense of Trump's knowledge is impressive: "That's too funny."

I guess, given the ludicrousness of his statements re the North Korean situation, you may have a point.

Edited July 9, 2018 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

[attrayant]

2 hours ago, Happyman58 said:

Please to this day and if someone can tell me What actually did the Vietnam War achieve?

 

Proxy war.  It kept the USA and China from fighting each other directly - a conflict neither had the stomach for.

[bristolboy]

2 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

Proxy war.  It kept the USA and China from fighting each other directly - a conflict neither had the stomach for.

Except that it was Russia that backed the Vietnamese. The Chinese didn't have much to do with it at all. And in fact, after the Americans left, had some skirmishes with the Vietnamese. No love lost there.

[attrayant]

Correction noted.  I've got China on the brain for some reason.  Don't know why that could be...

[baboon]

10 hours ago, Briggsy said:

As virtually everybody predicted, the ridiculous summit with no preparation, no goals was just a brilliant photo opportunity, self-congratulating, distraction mission by Trump probably approved by the Kremlin. No details were released before or after the meeting about how the situation would specifically be improved. Fox News went into hyperdrive, stating Trump was the statesman of the century and should get the Nobel Peace Prize. His supporters lapped it up despite the vast majority of them not knowing where North Korea was on a map but overnight they all reprogrammed their brains from "Kim Jong Un very bad" to "Kim Jong Un okay guy".

 

Seasoned observers predicted the actual outcome would be nothing except a legitimizing of Kim as an international leader. That is what has happened. Lord knows what else Trump gave away in secret to Kim other than the announced cancelling of military manoeuvres.

They met face to face. Furthermore, both parties did not tell the other to go f- themselves after 10 minutes. That was an achievement in my book. Anything is better than nothing.

Cancel a Team Spirit exercise? Good move. It isn't like the US could not devastate North Korea if necessary anyway. Now they can rightly expect a little back. If not, back to square one but it was worth a try.

 

You see, negotiations are not simply dictating the terms of another nation's surrender. Let's see what happens.