The State Department has just confirmed that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be holding his next meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this weekend.
In a press conference, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert confirmed that Pompeo will be meeting with Kim in Pyongyang on Sunday, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
.@statedeptspox announces @SecPompeo’s upcoming trip to Asia, where he will travel to #Japan, #NorthKorea, #ROK, and #China from October 6-8. pic.twitter.com/hnB2xAIME7
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 2, 2018
The trip will be Pompeo’s fourth to North Korea since spring 2018. He will be continuing denuclearization talks with Kim.
Nauert said Pompeo “looks forward to continuing the conversation” with North Korea, noting that “everyone recognizes that we have a ways to go” in the talks.
“These conversations are going in the right direction and we feel confident enough to hop on a plane to head there to continue the conversations,” Nauert said.
Pompeo was expected to visit Pyongyang to meet with Kim in August, but the trip was cancelled by President Trump after he raised concern over North Korea’s lack of denuclearization progress.
When asked today whether the U.S. has softened its tough approach toward North Korea, Nauert quickly refuted the suggestion.
“Our policies have not changed one bit,” Nauert asserted. “We got behind the maximum pressure campaign. The United States government still stands firmly behind the sanctions put in place. The world stands behind those sanctions put in place.”
Pompeo will also make visits to Japan, South Korea, and China over the weekend and early next week.
