發布日期:2023-02-01 07:44:17
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gestures while speaking during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday. AP
The United States wants to ensure that progress in denuclearizing North Korea is not outpaced by efforts to improve inter-Korean ties, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.
Pompeo's remark underscores U.S. concerns that a recent flurry of inter-Korean activity could undermine sanctions placed on the North for its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
"We have made clear to the Republic of Korea that we do want to make sure that peace on the peninsula and the denuclearization of North Korea aren't lagging behind the increase in the amount of inter-relationship between the two Koreas," Pompeo said in a news conference. "We view them as tandem, as moving forward together. We view them as important parallel processes."
South Korean and American officials were meeting in Washington the same day to launch a working group that will help coordination on the matter.
Pompeo said there is "complete agreement" between the sides on how the two efforts should proceed.