World

DNI Doubts North Korea Will Denuclearize Within 1 Year

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats in a panel discussion said it is unlikely that North Korea will dismantle its nuclear program within a year.
Sputnik

"It [denuclearization] is technically possible, but probably not going to happen," Coats said at the Aspen Security Forum on Thursday when asked if Pyongyang could achieve this objective within 12 months.

Coats referred to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has previously said the complete destruction of North Korea's nuclear arsenal will take a long time.

US media reported earlier in July that Pyongyang is continuing to develop its nuclear program and trying to deceive the United States about its denuclearization efforts.

US Says North Korea Violated UN Sanctions at Least 89 Times in 2018 - Reports
Coats added that he is not surprised North Koreans may try to hide certain things, but that is why the United States has a verification process in place.

The official added that the United States continues to have China's and Russia's support in terms of keeping sanctions on Pyongyang, because both countries see the danger of North Korea being a nuclear power.

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said Thursday that US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan has told Chinese Envoy  Cui Tiankai that the Trump administration remains totally committed to achieving the complete nuclear disarmament of North Korea.

"Deputy Secretary Sullivan also reaffirmed US commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK [North Korea], as agreed to by Chairman Kim [Jong Un] in Singapore," Nauert said on Thursday.

North Korea Confirms Commitment to Denuclearization - Pompeo
Sullivan also urged China to continue to fully implement all related UN Security Council Resolutions on North Korea at a lunch at the State Department, Nauert added.

At the historic June 12 meeting in Singapore, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reached an agreement that required Pyongyang to denuclearize in exchange for a freeze on the US-South Korean military drills and eventual sanctions relief.

The two leaders signed a document, which, among other issues, stipulated the recovery of the remains of prisoners of war and soldiers who went missing in action.

Discuss