Pompeo to visit South Korea after Trump

From left, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, depart a news conference with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Rose Garden at the White House Thursday (local time). AP

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday he will travel to South Korea after next week's summit between the U.S. and North Korean leaders to discuss the results of the historic meeting.

The top U.S. diplomat will make a two-day trip to Seoul on Wednesday after accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump to his June 12 nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

In Seoul, he is expected to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

"The Secretary's trip demonstrates the Administration's focus on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region," the State Department said in a press release. "He will meet with senior Korean and Japanese officials to discuss the U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance, the U.S.-Japan alliance, our shared priorities, and next steps in our shared approach to North Korea."

Pompeo also plans to visit Beijing next Thursday to meet with Chinese officials.

Trump says he could invite Kim to US if summit goes well 2018-06-08 09:22  |  North Korea
The secretary announced the trip while speaking to reporters at the White House about the upcoming summit.

He said the two countries have narrowed their differences on the definition of denuclearization, but refused to elaborate.

"North Korea has confirmed to us its willingness to denuclearize," he said, adding that Kim personally made the indication during their earlier meetings in Pyongyang.

He also said Kim understands the two sides can't settle on an agreement to denuclearize in exchange for concessions "the way we've done it before." (Yonhap)