US guarantees 'unique' security to N Korea for denuclearization

Changi [Singapore], June 12 (ANI): The United States is willing to provide security to North Korea in exchange for denuclearisation, as announced a day before the Singaporean summit.

While addressing a press conference held at JW Marriott Hotel in Singapore on Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US could offer North Korea "unique" security in return for a complete denuclearisation.

As reported by the Straits Times, Pompeo further said that the sanctions would remain until "verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation" was achieved.

Noting that North Korea previously confirmed its willingness to denuclearise, he said that the US was "eager to see if those words prove sincere" and that pre-summit talks between the US and North Korean officials continued in Singapore on Monday.

Pompeo further hinted at giving immunity to North Korea as he said that the US would ensure "that denuclearisation isn't something that ends badly for them (North Korea)."

He also claimed that denuclearisation would mean a "bright and better future" for the North Koreans.

The guarantees provided against denuclearisation would be "different and unique" as compared to the earlier ones, Pompeo added.

This would include expanding access to foreign investment and other economic opportunities for North Korea.

Contradicting the reports of the unscientific dismantling of the North Korean nuclear sites, Pompeo said that a team of experts - from the military, Department of Energy and members of the intelligence community covering North Korea - was meeting over the last three months to plan denuclearisation.

He further said that a day before the summit, US President Donald Trump called Japanese and South Korean Presidents Shinzo Abe and Moon Jae-in respectively.

It has been speculated that during the summit Kim is likely to ask for immunity against sanctions.

This came hours after a working lunch between Trump and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Istana, Singaporean presidential house. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI