"Our eyes are wide open; it's time to solve this once and for all. A bad deal is not an option… We are committed to the permanent verifiable irreversible dismantling of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program and to do so without delay," — said newly appointed State Secretary Mike Pompeo at his swearing-in ceremony in Washington.
He also noted, that the current administration "will not repeat the mistakes of the past", adding that the results of the process are certainly "unknown".
READ MORE: Kim Fears US May Upend Korean Disarmament Process Again — Ex-Canadian Diplomat
Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claimed that his country would stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles as well as shut down a nuclear test site. Trump has immediately called this statement "big progress" in the negotiations.
Previously Pompeo announced, that Kim Jong-un is ready to outline a roadmap for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This statement was made in the wake of a historic summit in the truce village of Panmunjom, where South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un met this Friday. Both leaders signed a joint declaration on denuclearization and reunion of separated Korean families. The same day, US President Donald Trump said that he would hold a meeting with the North Korean leader in "the coming weeks."
READ MORE: S Korean President Dismisses US Troop Withdrawal After Peace Treaty With North
The six-party negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearization started in 2003 and included South and North Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States. However, two years later Pyongyang declared itself a nuclear power, and in 2009 North Korea withdrew from the talks, starting to perform numerous ballistic and nuclear missile tests.
