Pompeo on the Declaration of the End of the War Question: "Includes Denuclearization"

"No Change at All in the US Approach to the Denuclearization Issue"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, mentioned that the declaration of the end of the Korean War is included in the process of North Korea's denuclearization.

On the 21st (local time), Secretary Pompeo said this during a briefing in response to a question about whether the declaration of the end of the war, mentioned by President Moon Jae-in in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last month, is possible without North Korea's complete nuclear abandonment.

Secretary Pompeo said, "There is absolutely no change in the U.S. approach to a series of issues related to North Korea's denuclearization, which clearly includes documents that will change the state between North Korea and South Korea and a brighter future for the North Korean people."

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

This appears to be a statement that the declaration of the end of the war will be included in the process of changing the current armistice situation on the Korean Peninsula. Earlier, Seo Hun, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, who met with Secretary Pompeo and Robert O'Brien, U.S. National Security Advisor, during his visit to the U.S., also mentioned that "the declaration of the end of the war and denuclearization cannot be separated."

Secretary Pompeo also urged North Korea to return to the negotiating table. He said, "We continue to believe that there are important and good outcomes for world peace and stability, and for the North Korean people (after denuclearization)," adding, "We hope to seriously begin such discussions at the table that could ultimately lead to what the South Korean president mentioned."

Regarding the progress of the defense cost-sharing negotiations for the U.S. Forces Korea, Secretary Pompeo only said, "We are still working on it. Discussions and dialogues about appropriate burden-sharing are ongoing."