{ "error": "", "type": "text", "title": "Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Steve Inskeep of NPR - North Korea", "slug": "secretary-pompeos-interview-with-steve-inskeep-of-npr-north-korea", "text": "
\"QUESTION:<\/strong> Let me ask about another subject. Has North Korea\u2019s Kim Jong-un let you down?<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> We\u2019ve known from the very first trip that I took when I was in a previous role that the challenge of denuclearizing North Korea was not one that would be something that would be easy or without bumps in the road or would occur in a way that was like instant pudding. The world doesn\u2019t quite work that way.<\/p>\n We have diplomatically, relentlessly worked to support the President\u2019s mission statement, which is to denuclearize North Korea. We got the commitment from Chairman Kim. We\u2019ve made some progress. There remains a long ways to go, but we are hard at even today.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> But they haven\u2019t agreed to give an accounting of their nuclear weapons, which is something you wanted, and as time passes they\u2019re beginning to get concessions. North and South Korea are talking about reopening roads and railroads. The United States is working to loosen travel restrictions. North Korea is getting benefits without giving things up.<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> The North Koreans have not suffered an economic sanctions regime like the one that the Trump administration has imposed and continues to impose ever.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> Will --<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> Ever, Steve. I mean, you say things and they\u2019re just unfounded, Steve. You say we\u2019re going to loosen travel restrictions when, if you read the statement very clearly, we\u2019re working to make sure that humanitarian assistance can be delivered.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> It is a narrow --<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> It is right \u2013 it\u2019s in the statement, Steve. Don\u2019t read half of it. Read it all.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> I read it all.<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> It\u2019s important because this has deep connotations. You\u2019re suggesting to your listeners that somehow we\u2019re relaxing the economic sanctions campaign. Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth of the matter is that we are very consistent with what we\u2019ve done before, making sure that where there is real need, real humanitarian need there, that we don\u2019t deny that to the people of North Korea. And sometimes it takes getting an American to be able to travel in there to achieve that, and where that\u2019s the case we want to facilitate that.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> I think it is fair to say they, however, have been evasive. They\u2019ve been canceling meetings with your diplomats. Has Kim Jong-un let you down?<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> It\u2019s been a great process. They\u2019re not firing rockets. They\u2019re not conducting nuclear tests. We have a ways to go, and we will continue to achieve \u2013 to work to achieve the President\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n QUESTION:<\/strong> The second summit\u2019s going to happen?<\/p>\n SECRETARY POMPEO:<\/strong> I\u2019m counting on it.\"<\/p>",
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