Pentagon chief warns of ‘bumpy road’ for talks
U. S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says international sanctions on North Korea will only be lifted when Pyongyang takes concrete steps to dismantle its nuclear program.
“We will continue to implement all U. N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea,” Mattis said as he wrapped up a visit to Singapore Sunday. “North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearization.”
Mattis, speaking alongside his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, attempted to dial back expectations for the ongoing talks between the United States and North Korea.
“We can anticipate at best a bumpy road to the negotiations,” Mattis said.
Laying groundwork
U. S. and North Korean officials continue to lay the groundwork ahead of the expected summit between U. S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting is set to take place June 12 in Singapore.
On Saturday, Mattis said U.
