Kim rejects US deadline to give up most nuclear arms

North Korea rejected United States appeals to give up part of its nuclear arsenal and reaffirmed its friendship with Iran yesterday as the fragile detente between the two nuclear powers began to disintegrate.

The foreign ministry in Pyongyang accused the US of following an ‘‘outdated acting script’’ and demanded more concessions before offering any in return.

American officials have been putting pressure on North Korea to follow its claimed suspension of nuclear tests and destruction of its nuclear test site with a handover of weapons.

According to the news website Vox, Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, repeatedly asked North Korea to hand over 60 to 70 per cent of its nuclear arsenal within six to eight months, in return for relief on sanctions and North Korea’s removal from a list of sponsors of terrorism.

Pyongyang accused Washington of seeking a pretext for more sanctions. ‘‘The US responded to our expectation by inciting international sanctions and pressure,’’ it said. ‘‘As long as the US ... clings to the outdated acting script, which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress.’’

The US approach to North Korea, including a meeting in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and the Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has contrasted with the White House’s rejection of the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran and North Korea are known to have co-operated on missile development and are believed to have shared nuclear knowhow.

The North Korean foreign minister, Ri Yong-ho, flew from discussions with Pompeo in Singapore to Tehran this week, just as the US reimposed sanctions on Iran on Trump’s orders.

Ri told President Hassan Rouhani of Iran that North Korea stood by him in opposition to Trump’s actions, which he said were ‘‘against international rules’’.

Vox reported that North Korea was annoyed by Pompeo’s reiteration, despite repeated rebuffs, of the demand to denuclearise.

It was not clear what he was offering in return; Pompeo has refused to answer questions about

‘‘As long as the US ... clings to the outdated acting script, which the previous administrations have all tried and failed, one cannot expect any progress.’’ North Korea spokesman

the details of his negotiations even to Congress, and the State Department has so far made no comment on Vox’s claims.

Pompeo had the backing of other key administration officials. John Bolton, the national security adviser and a hawk on both North Korea and Iran, said: ‘‘North Korea has not taken the steps we feel are necessary to denuclearise.’’

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said on Thursday that the ball was ‘‘in North Korea’s court’’ and that the US was not ‘‘willing to wait for too long’’ for concrete steps.

Long-term watchers of North Korea’s attitude to nuclear negotiations have contrasted the high expectations created by Trump’s meeting with Kim and the more low-key approach of South Korea.

The two Koreas will hold talks on Monday, probably conducted by the two sides’ ‘‘unification ministers’’ – officials directly responsible for bilateral relations – but the agenda is likely to be limited to reducing tension and putting a formal end to the state of war between them.

The United States Arms Control Association said this week: ‘‘Placing rigid requirements on the outcome of the negotiations ... could prolong and complicate the process by setting unrealistic expectations.’’

– The Times