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| North Korea Presses Demand for End of War Amid Talk of Pompeo Visit | North Korea Presses Demand for End of War Amid Talk of Pompeo Visit |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea pressed its demand on Friday that the United States agree to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, as South Korea’s leader indicated that the American secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, was preparing for his fourth visit to the North. | SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea pressed its demand on Friday that the United States agree to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, as South Korea’s leader indicated that the American secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, was preparing for his fourth visit to the North. |
| Mr. Pompeo, the point man in President Trump’s efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, has been struggling to follow up on the agreement reached between Mr. Trump and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, when they met in Singapore in June in the first summit meeting between their nations. | Mr. Pompeo, the point man in President Trump’s efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, has been struggling to follow up on the agreement reached between Mr. Trump and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, when they met in Singapore in June in the first summit meeting between their nations. |
| In Singapore, Mr. Kim committed to work toward the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” But the summit agreement lacked details on how to achieve that goal, and Mr. Pompeo and his team of negotiators has struggled since then to win concrete action on this front from their North Korean counterparts. | In Singapore, Mr. Kim committed to work toward the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” But the summit agreement lacked details on how to achieve that goal, and Mr. Pompeo and his team of negotiators has struggled since then to win concrete action on this front from their North Korean counterparts. |
| When he met with representatives of political parties in Seoul on Thursday, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea said that negotiations between the United States and North Korea have recently gained “speed,” with Mr. Pompeo planning to visit North Korea again, according to Yun So-ha, an opposition leader, who briefed reporters on the meeting. | When he met with representatives of political parties in Seoul on Thursday, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea said that negotiations between the United States and North Korea have recently gained “speed,” with Mr. Pompeo planning to visit North Korea again, according to Yun So-ha, an opposition leader, who briefed reporters on the meeting. |
| On Thursday, Mr. Pompeo said his team was “continuing to make progress” with the North Koreans, and said he hoped that “we can make a big step here before too long.” | On Thursday, Mr. Pompeo said his team was “continuing to make progress” with the North Koreans, and said he hoped that “we can make a big step here before too long.” |
| “We’re continuing to engage in conversation with them about a path forward to a brighter future for the North Koreans,” Mr. Pompeo said Thursday during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. He also commended the North for not conducting any nuclear or missile tests since late last year. | “We’re continuing to engage in conversation with them about a path forward to a brighter future for the North Koreans,” Mr. Pompeo said Thursday during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. He also commended the North for not conducting any nuclear or missile tests since late last year. |
| Mr. Pompeo first met with Mr. Kim in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Easter weekend and again in May to help prepare for Mr. Trump’s summit with Mr. Kim. He again visited Pyongyang last month to urge North Korea to carry out the Singapore summit deal by moving quickly toward denuclearization, but notably failed to meet with Mr. Kim. At the end of this visit, North Korea called his demands for denuclearization “gangster-like.” | Mr. Pompeo first met with Mr. Kim in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Easter weekend and again in May to help prepare for Mr. Trump’s summit with Mr. Kim. He again visited Pyongyang last month to urge North Korea to carry out the Singapore summit deal by moving quickly toward denuclearization, but notably failed to meet with Mr. Kim. At the end of this visit, North Korea called his demands for denuclearization “gangster-like.” |
| The State Department has yet to announce whether and when Mr. Pompeo planned to visit North Korea again. | The State Department has yet to announce whether and when Mr. Pompeo planned to visit North Korea again. |
| But South Korean officials have said that Mr. Moon has scheduled his own visit to Pyongyang in September to discuss improving inter-Korean relations with Mr. Kim after Mr. Pompeo’s fourth trip to the North. On Wednesday, Mr. Moon proposed a bold expansion of economic cooperation with North Korea, including reconnecting the rail systems of the two Koreas, should the North denuclearize. | But South Korean officials have said that Mr. Moon has scheduled his own visit to Pyongyang in September to discuss improving inter-Korean relations with Mr. Kim after Mr. Pompeo’s fourth trip to the North. On Wednesday, Mr. Moon proposed a bold expansion of economic cooperation with North Korea, including reconnecting the rail systems of the two Koreas, should the North denuclearize. |
| The latest hitch in negotiations has been over North Korea’s demand that the United States join the two Koreas in declaring an end to the Korean War. The conflict was halted with an armistice that was signed in 1953, but for decades the North has demanded that the United States negotiate a peace treaty to formally end the war. | The latest hitch in negotiations has been over North Korea’s demand that the United States join the two Koreas in declaring an end to the Korean War. The conflict was halted with an armistice that was signed in 1953, but for decades the North has demanded that the United States negotiate a peace treaty to formally end the war. |
| Recently, it has renewed its push for a political statement in which the two Koreas and the United States — and perhaps, China too — jointly declare an end to the war, as a prelude to complex negotiations for replacing the armistice with a peace treaty. | Recently, it has renewed its push for a political statement in which the two Koreas and the United States — and perhaps, China too — jointly declare an end to the war, as a prelude to complex negotiations for replacing the armistice with a peace treaty. |
| Mr. Moon supports the proposal, arguing that such a statement will help ease tensions and encourage North Korea to denuclearize. When he met with Mr. Kim in April for their first summit, the two Korean leaders agreed to push for such a declaration this year. | Mr. Moon supports the proposal, arguing that such a statement will help ease tensions and encourage North Korea to denuclearize. When he met with Mr. Kim in April for their first summit, the two Korean leaders agreed to push for such a declaration this year. |
| But United States officials fear that North Korea may be seeking such a declaration to undermine the rationale for the United States military presence in South Korea without getting any commitment by Pyongyang to relinquish its nuclear weapons. They insist that North Korea take meaningful steps toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program before Washington makes any such concessions. | But United States officials fear that North Korea may be seeking such a declaration to undermine the rationale for the United States military presence in South Korea without getting any commitment by Pyongyang to relinquish its nuclear weapons. They insist that North Korea take meaningful steps toward dismantling its nuclear weapons program before Washington makes any such concessions. |
| But the North on Friday pushed back. | But the North on Friday pushed back. |
| “There is no reason to ignore a declaration to end the war,” said a commentary in the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s main state-run newspaper, on Friday. “It is a preliminary and essential process to pave the ground for easing tensions and building permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.” | |
| The North’s government, state-run news media and propaganda websites have issued a steady stream of similar statements in recent weeks, indicating that the declaration of an end to the war was the North’s latest negotiating goal. | The North’s government, state-run news media and propaganda websites have issued a steady stream of similar statements in recent weeks, indicating that the declaration of an end to the war was the North’s latest negotiating goal. |
| When Mr. Pompeo visited Pyongyang in early last month to seek more concrete steps toward denuclearization, North Korea indicated that it was willing to take steps in exchange for the end-to-the-war declaration. One of the first things North Korea should do is to declare all its nuclear weapons-related facilities, United States officials say. | When Mr. Pompeo visited Pyongyang in early last month to seek more concrete steps toward denuclearization, North Korea indicated that it was willing to take steps in exchange for the end-to-the-war declaration. One of the first things North Korea should do is to declare all its nuclear weapons-related facilities, United States officials say. |
| North Korea insists that it will move toward the complete denuclearization of the peninsula only in phases and will do so only if Washington matches them with corresponding measures to improve ties and provide security guarantees for the North. | North Korea insists that it will move toward the complete denuclearization of the peninsula only in phases and will do so only if Washington matches them with corresponding measures to improve ties and provide security guarantees for the North. |
| “The United States must implement phased and simultaneous measures, like the end-of-war declaration, to build mutual trust,” the Rodong commentary said. |