Abe praises Pompeo after DPRK's 'gangster-like' comment

World
Europe

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised on Sunday US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s conduct at denuclearization talks with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials who accused the US' top diplomat of making “gangster-like” demands.

“I would like to pay my tribute to the strong leadership you have demonstrated in negotiating with North Korea (DPRK),” Abe said when he met Pompeo at his residence in Tokyo. “This really shows the unwavering bond of the Japan-US alliance.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) meets with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, July 8, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The DPRK’s comment that Pompeo had made “gangster-like” demands, which came after two days of talks that began in Pyongyang on Friday, contradicted Pompeo’s comments on Saturday that he had made progress on “almost all of the central issues.”

Read more:

Pompeo: Progress made on timeline of DPRK's denuclearization

A statement from the DPRK foreign ministry said: “The high-level talks this time brought us in a dangerous situation where we may be shaken in our unshakable will for denuclearization, rather than consolidating trust between the DPRK and the US”.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono and ROK's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speak with each other after a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 8, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Pompeo reassured Abe he had raised during his two days in DPRK the issue of Japanese people abducted by DPRK agents to train its spies.

“The settlement of the outstanding issues of concern surrounding North Korea (DPRK), including the nuclear, missile and abduction issues, will be extremely important for Japan and also extremely important for peace and stability in the world,” Pompeo told Abe.

In addition to demanding that the DPRK agree to the complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of its nuclear weapons and missile programs, Abe has made the return of any abductees still in the DPRK or a full disclosure of their fates a condition for providing any major economic assistance.

Pompeo talked earlier with Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono, along with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. During the talk, the US and ROK reaffirmed their commitment to implement sanctions against the DPRK until it abandoned its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Source(s): Reuters