Weapon gains put pressure on Pompeo trip
WASHINGTON — Evidence of new efforts by Kim Jong Un to expand his nuclear arsenal shows the challenge facing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he returns to Pyongyang this week to seek a detailed disarmament plan.
Several reports released in recent days suggest that Kim continued to ramp up his weapons production before his June 12 summit with President Donald Trump, after which the U.S. leader declared North Korea was “no longer a nuclear threat.” The reports published by independent researchers and media organizations detail efforts to increase fuel production, build more missile launchers and expand a key rocket-engine manufacturing facility.
The moves illustrate how far Kim remains from surrendering his nuclear weapons despite committing to “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” during his meeting with Trump. While the reports — some relying on satellite imagery predating the summit — haven’t been officially verified, they suggest Pompeo has a difficult task when he leaves Thursday for his trip to Pyongyang.
“This meeting is absolutely critical,” said Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “One can argue that the North Koreans are doing all of this to get maximum concessions out of the United States, if and when they decide to give up their nuclear program. But at some point they have to sit down and actually produce something. Maybe this trip — but I’m not holding my breath.”
In the days since the summit, North Korea has expanded ties with rivals and allies alike, visiting China and holding talks on economic co-operation with South Korea. Trump has touted the agreement in campaign-style rallies despite criticism by armscontrol experts that the lack of a clear implementation framework makes it unlikely Kim will fully surrender his nuclear program.
In a Twitter post Tuesday morning, Trump touted “many good good conversations with North Korea” and asserted that “all of Asia is thrilled.”
“If not for me, we would now be at War with North Korea!” he added.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and South Korea have suspended regular military exercises that North Korea sees as a threat. And the Seoul-based Munhwa Ilbo newspaper reported Monday that South Korea was considering cancelling or scaling back missile-defence plans.
Axios reported Monday that Trump was considering meeting Kim in September in New York, although White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration had no announcements to make.
She also declined to discuss reports of North Korea’s weapons advances, instead citing the country’s eight-month hiatus from weapons tests as evidence of success.