Ten days after Trump-Kim summit, hard work is yet to begin

WASHINGTON: The landmark summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-Un ended with a North Korean pledge of ‘complete denuclearisation,’ but 10 days on no timetable for action has emerged.

After flying back to Washington last week, seemingly giddy with success, the US leader tweeted, ‘There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea’ – a bold claim with Kim’s arsenal still in place. But senior US officials admit there is much work to be done as negotiators thrash out the details of what they hope will be Pyongyang’s ‘complete, verifiable and irreversible’ disarmament.

Many observers were disappointed that the short statement of intent signed by the two leaders did not more clearly define denuclearisation, fearing Kim plans to keep his hard-won deterrent.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has angrily insisted that the term ‘complete’ in the document includes the concept that denuclearisation will be ‘verifiable and irreversible.’

Trump has gone further, claiming on June 12 that the process will start quickly, then on June 21 confusing the issue by saying, “It will be a total denuclearisation, which is already taking place.” Pompeo has been only marginally more cautious.

On June 13, he said, “We believe that Kim Jong Un understands the urgency ... that we must do this quickly,” adding that he hopes for ‘major disarmament’ within two and a half years. So far, however, this confidence rests solely on trust in Kim’s assurances to Trump at the summit, and on his reported promise to China to ‘implement the summit’s consensus step by step.’

Defending Kim’s pledge, Pompeo said: “I was there when he said it. He made a personal commitment. He has his reputation on the line.” This drew a scathing retort from Thomas Wright, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. — AFP