This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44751283

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
North Korea nuclear deal: US attitude 'regrettable', says Pyongyang North Korea: US is making 'gangster-like' demands on denuclearisation
(about 4 hours later)
North Korea has branded the US attitude at the latest talks over its nuclear programme "regrettable" and "extremely troubling". North Korea has accused the US of using "gangster-like" tactics to push it towards nuclear disarmament after a fresh round of high-level talks.
The statement, by an unnamed foreign ministry official, contradicted the version of events given by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just hours before. It branded the US attitude at the meeting as "extremely troubling".
The statement, by an unnamed foreign ministry official, gave a starkly different account from one provided by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo just hours before.
He had said progress was made during his two-day visit to Pyongyang.He had said progress was made during his two-day visit to Pyongyang.
It was the first time he had visited North Korea since the Donald Trump-Kim Jong-un summit in Singapore. It is the first time he has visited North Korea since a summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore.
The North Korean statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency, said the US had gone against the spirit of the summit by putting unilateral pressure on the country to abandon its nuclear weapons. The leader's meeting ended with a promise from Mr Kim to work towards denuclearisation, but details on how this will be achieved remain thin.
"We had anticipated the US side would come with a constructive idea, thinking we would take something in return," the North Korean statement said. A key aim of Mr Pompeo during his visit was to firm up North Korea's commitment to disarmament.
"But through the high-level talks, the trust between the DPRK and the United States is facing a dangerous situation where our resolve for denuclearisation, which has been firm and steadfast, may falter." But the North Korean statement, carried by the official KCNA news agency, said the US had gone against the spirit of the summit by putting unilateral pressure on the country to abandon its nuclear weapons.
"We had anticipated the US side would come with a constructive idea, thinking we would take something in return," the North Korean statement said, warning its "resolve for denuclearisation... may falter".
"The US is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that [North Korea] would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset," it added.
'Great deal of progress''Great deal of progress'
A key aim of Mr Pompeo's two days of talks was to firm up North Korea's commitment to denuclearisation. At the talks, Mr Pompeo did not meet with Mr Kim, but instead with Kim Yong-chol, who is seen as his right-hand man.
He had met Kim Yong-chol, widely seen as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man. In his assessment Mr Pompeo gave little away, but he said they had discussed at length a timeline for disarmament, including the destruction of a missile engine testing facility.
Afterwards, Mr Pompeo gave little away about the talks' content, but he said they had discussed at length a timeline for disarmament, including the destruction of a missile engine testing facility. "These are complicated issues, but we made progress on almost all of the central issues, some places a great deal of progress, other places there's still more work to be done," he said.
"These are complicated issues, but we made progress on almost all of the central issues, some places a great deal of progress, other places there's still more work to be done," he said, shortly before North Korea gave its far more critical take on the meeting.
Kim Jong-un has promised to work towards denuclearisation, but details on how this will be achieved remain thin.
After the Singapore summit, which also saw the US offer "security guarantees" to North Korea and promise to end its military drills with South Korea, Mr Trump claimed that the North no longer posed a nuclear threat.After the Singapore summit, which also saw the US offer "security guarantees" to North Korea and promise to end its military drills with South Korea, Mr Trump claimed that the North no longer posed a nuclear threat.
However, the president has since renewed sanctions on North Korea, while US intelligence officials have said there is evidence North Korea continues to upgrade the infrastructure for its nuclear and missile programmes.However, the president has since renewed sanctions on North Korea, while US intelligence officials have said there is evidence North Korea continues to upgrade the infrastructure for its nuclear and missile programmes.
A state department spokesperson said Mr Pompeo had been "very firm" in focusing on denuclearisation, as well as on security assurances and another important US demand - the return of remains of US service personnel from the Korean War.A state department spokesperson said Mr Pompeo had been "very firm" in focusing on denuclearisation, as well as on security assurances and another important US demand - the return of remains of US service personnel from the Korean War.
Kim Yong-chol joked that Mr Pompeo may not have slept well during his overnight stay at a guesthouse in Pyongyang. Mr Pompeo said he "slept just fine". As Saturday's meeting got under way Kim Yong-chol joked that Mr Pompeo may not have slept well during his overnight stay at a guesthouse in Pyongyang. Mr Pompeo said he "slept just fine".
On Sunday, the US secretary of state will meet the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea in Tokyo.On Sunday, the US secretary of state will meet the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea in Tokyo.