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Trump Confident N. Korea Will Honor 'Contract' to Denuclearize

by VOA News

   U.S. President Donald Trump says he has "confidence" North Korean
   leader Kim Jong Un will "honor the contract we signed" for Pyongyang to
   denuclearize and alleged that China may be exerting negative pressure
   on the deal "because of our posture on Chinese trade."

   The comment on Twitter came Monday after North Korea's weekend
   accusation that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made "gangsterlike"
   demands that it abandon its nuclear program during his recent visit to
   Pyongyang. North Korea called the talks "regrettable."
   The top U.S. diplomat continued to describe his conversations with
   senior North Korean officials as "productive," even as North Korea
   attacked the U.S. negotiating stance.

   Pompeo said the North Korea diplomats "did not push back" in his
   discussions with them in Pyongyang. He said he is "hopeful" there will
   be a "path forward" in negotiations with North Korea.
   Pompeo's third trip to North Korea this year occurred amid reports of
   American intelligence assessments that Kim is continuing to develop the
   infrastructure for his nuclear program. U.S. news accounts in recent
   days have shown pictures of what is said to be the expansion of
   nuclear-related buildings in North Korea.
   Speaking Thursday aboard Air Force One on a trip to Montana, President
   Trump said he still believes Kim will follow through on his promise to
   denuclearize and that he forged a personal connection with the leader
   at their Singapore summit last month.

   "I think we understand each other. I really believe that he sees a
   different future for North Korea," Trump told reporters. "I hope that's
   true. If it's not true, then we go back to the other way, but I don't
   think that's going to be necessary.''
   Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, says North Korea could
   dismantle its nuclear arsenal within a year, but other U.S. officials
   have said they hope it can be accomplished by the end of Trump's first
   term in the White House, in January 2021.