HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says nuclear negotiations with North Korea will resume quickly following the collapse of President Donald Trump’s summit with Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon).
Pompeo tells reporters aboard his plane Thursday that his team will get back to work “tomorrow” although no new meetings have yet been scheduled.
Pompeo said progress was made between Trump and Kim at their talks in Hanoi but not enough to warrant signing any kind of agreement. The White House had scheduled a signing ceremony but abruptly canceled it along with a lunch when it became clear an agreement could not be reached.
Pompeo spoke as he flew to Manila from Hanoi, Vietnam, for talks with senior Philippines officials.
South Korea’s presidential office says Trump regretted the collapse of his nuclear summit with Kim but expressed “firm” commitment to continue negotiations.
The office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that Trump in a phone conversation with Moon discussed the details of his talks with Kim as he flew out of Vietnam.
The Blue House says Moon encouraged Trump to continue his efforts for accomplishing the “historic feat of resolving the world’s last remaining Cold War rivalry.” It says the leaders agreed to meet soon to discuss the nuclear issue.
Trump says he “walked away” from talks with Kim after it was clear the two sides remained at odds over ending the North’s nuclear program.
Kim was asked whether he was ready to denuclearize and said, “If I’m not willing to do that I won’t be here right now.”
