U.S. President Donald Trump says North Korea has already started its full-scale denuclearization.
Mentioning that the remains of American soldiers who died during the Korean War are being returned to the U.S., he emphasized that Pyongyang is adhering to the agreement sealed at the recent North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo has more.
During a cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Trump said North Korea has already entered the process of denuclearization… specifically citing that Pyongyang is destroying its missile test sites.
"They are destroying their engine site. They're blowing it up. They've already blown up one of their big test sites. In fact, it was actually four of their big test sites. And the big thing is it will be a total denuclearization, which is already starting taken place."
However, he did not clarify that these "blown up" facilities include the Punggye-ri nuclear test site that North Korea already destroyed back in May.
Having said the remains of 200 fallen U.S. soldiers had been sent back from North Korea the day before, Trump made it clear the process is ongoing.
"That they've already sent back or are in the process of sending back the remains of our great heroes who died in North Korea during the war. And that's already in the process of coming back."
He added that the relationship with North Korea is (quote unquote) "very good" and that he and Kim Jong-un are going to create a brighter future for North Korea.
According to State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with North Korean officials at the earliest date possible to implement the outcomes of the North Korea - U.S. summit.
But she said there were no meetings or travel plans to be announced at the current time.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News