Kim: Ditching nukes ‘step by step’

North Korea appears cautious in China talks

BEIJING — Kim Jong Un doesn’t appear to be in a rush to dump his nuclear weapons.

In talks with China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, the North Korean leader reiterated his call for a gradual process to carry out the results of last week’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Chinese state media cited Kim saying that denuclearization will open up new prospects if both sides can “implement the consensus of the summit step by step solidly.”

Kim’s remarks are another sign of lingering disagreements between Pyongyang and Washington over the pace and sequence of North Korea’s disarmament and sanctions relief. Trump has said Kim could see penalties relaxed only after he “completely denuclearized,” while North Korean state media has previously said the U.S. president had agreed to a “stepby-step” process.

The statement signed in Singapore on June 12 included no timetable for denuclearization and Trump told reporters in the city-state the same day that he didn’t know how long it would take, “but it will be quickly.”

Kim’s third trip to China since March underscores Beijing’s economic and political sway over its neighbor. China, which supplies more than 80 percent of North Korea’s imports, holds a unique combination of carrots and sticks that could make or break talks between Trump and Kim.

In their talks Tuesday, Xi told Kim that he’d been proactive in realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

“We hope that both sides — the DPRK and the U.S. — can implement the outcome of the summit, and relevant parties can work together to advance the peace process on the peninsula.” Xi said. “China will continue to play a constructive role.”

Kim is scheduled to return to Pyongyang on Wednesday.