DPRK, US spar over nuclear deal

SINGAPORE — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the United States on Saturday sparred over an agreement reached at a landmark summit in June for Pyongyang to end its nuclear program.

The dispute developed after Washington called for maintaining sanctions pressure against the DPRK, which in turn expressed alarm at US intentions.

The discord at a regional forum in Singapore was the latest reminder of the difficulties that have long impaired efforts to negotiate an end to DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs, despite commitments made at an unprecedented summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the top leader of DPRK, in the city state less than two months ago.

“The DPRK stands firm in its determination and commitment for implementing the DPRK-US Joint Statement in a responsible and good-faith manner,” DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told the ASEAN Regional Forum.

“What is alarming however is the insistent moves manifested within the US to go back to the old, far from its leader’s intention,” he said.

Ri made the statement after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had left the Singapore conference center for Indonesia having pressed Southeast Asian nations to maintain sanctions on the DPRK until it gives up its nuclear weapons program.

Pompeo suggested on Friday that continued work on weapons programs by the DPRK was inconsistent with Kim’s commitment to denuclearize.

On Saturday, he nevertheless said he was optimistic a DPRK denuclearization could be achieved although it “would take some time”.

Ri said DPRK had made goodwill gestures, including a moratorium on nuclear tests and rocket launches and the dismantling of a nuclear test site.

“However, the United States, instead of responding to these measures, is raising its voice louder for maintaining the sanctions against the DPRK and showing the attitude to retreat even from declaring the end of the war, a very basic and primary step for providing peace on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

On Friday, meanwhile, China said will continue to work with all relevant parties to help push forward the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting and related meetings.

While expressing appreciation for the DPRK’s efforts in promoting the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula and improving its ties with the US, Wang said the Chinese side hopes that the US will take the DPRK’s legitimate concerns seriously and meet the DPRK half way.