Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State: "No Matter Who the North Korean Leader Is, Our Goal Is Denuclearization"

▲Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State [Image source=AP News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed rumors about North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's health, stating, "Regardless of who leads North Korea, the United States will continue to pursue the denuclearization of North Korea."

On the 22nd (local time), Secretary Pompeo revealed this in an interview with Fox News, mentioning that he had met Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers' Party and Kim Jong-un's younger sister.

He emphasized, "I have had several opportunities to meet with First Deputy Kim, and no matter who leads North Korea, our goals and tasks will not change."

He added, "They must denuclearize," and "It must be done in a way that we can verify."

Furthermore, Secretary Pompeo stated, "If the North Korean leadership abandons nuclear weapons, the United States can guarantee a bright future for the North Korean people."

Meanwhile, rumors about Kim Jong-un's health surfaced after the South Korean North Korea specialist media Daily NK reported on the 20th, citing a "source inside North Korea," that "Kim Jong-un underwent cardiovascular surgery on the 12th at Hyangsan Clinic in the Myohyangsan area of North Pyongan Province and is currently receiving treatment at Hyangsan Special Residence."

Subsequently, U.S. CNN also amplified the suspicions by citing a U.S. government official "directly familiar with the matter," reporting that Kim Jong-un is in a critical condition.