The Guardian: No sign of North Korea dismantling nuclear weapons programme, Mattis admits

No sign of North Korea dismantling nuclear weapons programme, Mattis admits
No one knows when meeting about it will be held either, contrary to Trump’s promise after Singapore summit

Mattis was speaking to reporters amid confusion over the diplomatic follow-up to last week’s summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.

Immediately after the meeting Trump claimed that North Korea had begun the destruction of a missile engine testing site or would begin as soon as Kim returned from the summit. In return Trump ordered the suspension of military exercises with South Korea, a longstanding demand of the Pyongyang regime. This week the Pentagon confirmed that planning for the next scheduled exercises in August had halted.

However, asked on Wednesday if he could “put his finger on” any steps North Korea had taken to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme, Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon: “No, I’m not aware of that.”

He added: “The detailed negotiations have not begun. I wouldn’t expect that at this point.”




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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/21/no-sign-of-north-korea-dismantling-nuclear-weapons-mattis-admits