Pyongyang raises doubts about denuclearization plan

He described as "regrettable" the dialogue with an American delegation

SEOUL.- Whereas it seemed that the United States and North Korea had managed to channel the dialogue to reduce tensions, Pyongyang denounced yesterday that talks with a US delegation led by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was "unfortunate", which could undermine their resolve to abandon the controversial nuclear program.

The Kim Jong-un regime accused the US delegation in a statement of unilateral pressure on the country to force it to dismantle its nuclear arsenal. "We expected that the United States would introduce productive measures that would serve to build confidence, in line with the spirit of the bilateral summit," a spokesman for the North Korean government quoted media sources as saying. State

. He said that the United States betrayed the spirit of last month's historic summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and Kim. "We had anticipated that the US side would find a constructive idea, that we would have something in return, but through the high-level talks, trust between the two countries is facing a dangerous situation in which our desire to denuclearize supported, he may falter, "he warned.

However, Pompeo's perception was different. "These are complicated questions, but we have progressed on almost all the central issues, in some cases, great progress, in others, there is still much to be done," wrote Heather Nauert, spokesman for Department of State. . "This will be largely left to the working groups created to solve specific problems," he added.

Pompeo announced that a Pentagon team would meet with North Korean officials in the coming days to discuss the repatriation of the remains of US soldiers killed during the Korean War, and there would be discussions on the destruction of a North Korean missile engine test facility.

Pompeo paid a two-day visit to Pyongyang, which ended yesterday. concrete steps towards denuclearization agreed upon by Trump and Kim in their meeting. In return, Washington promised "security guarantees" to the communist country. So, no sort of schedule or accuracy has been established about it, something that is being attempted now.

In the North Korean capital, Pompeo met with senior members of the Communist Party and former chief of intelligence Kim Yong. -chol, a close adviser to Kim, without it being clear whether he met the dictator directly or not.

Yesterday he continued his tour with a trip to Tokyo, reported Nauert. There, Pompeo will report the results of his visit to South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and his Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono

Reuters Agencies, ANSA and DPA