Kono, Pompeo Agree to Seek Concrete Action by N. Korea

May 24, 2018

Washington- Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed Wednesday on the need to make North Korea take concrete action toward its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.

At their talks at the State Department in Washington, they also agreed to demand the reclusive state abandon ballistic missiles of all ranges and reaffirmed close cooperation in efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.

Kono, who speaks English, and Pompeo held the meeting for about 25 minutes without the aid of interpreters.

After the talks, Kono told reporters that he and Pompeo had in-depth discussions about the kind of agreement that may be reached in the planned first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit and steps that should be taken after that.

Japan and the United States will continue to closely exchange information, Kono added.

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are currently scheduled to meet in Singapore on June 12.

But Pyongyang has warned that it may reconsider the summit and Trump has shown his readiness to postpone the talks.

Regarding such developments, Kono said they indicate that it would be meaningless to hold the meeting if conditions are not met.

Trump and Kim are not meeting for the sake of holding talks, Kono said, showing support for the United States.

Kono and Pompeo met for the second time, following their first meeting in Jordan in April.

The Japanese foreign minister also held talks with John Bolton, national security adviser to Trump, for the first time to exchange opinions on North Korean issues. Jiji Press