Pompeo tale ‘difficult’ denuclearisation talks
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brushed off North Korean charges that he used “gangster-like” diplomacy in negotiations in Pyongyang, saying on Sunday after meeting his Japanese and South Korean counterparts that he would keep pursuing denuclearisation talks with North Korea.
Pompeo said in Tokyo there was still a lot of work to do, but he was confident North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would stick to a commitment to abandon nuclear weapons he made during a summit with US President Donald Trump in Singapore last month.
“When we spoke to them about denuclearisation, they did not push back,” Pompeo told a news conference after two days of talks in Pyongyang that ended on Saturday. “The road ahead will be difficult and challenging and we know that critics will try to minimise the work that we’ve achieved.”
Some US senators expressed concern about North Korea’s harsh words and urged the Trump administration to keep up the pressure on Pyongyang. Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said joint military exercises with South Korea suspended to show goodwill toward North Korea should be resumed “soon” if talks sputter.
Pompeo said that while he saw progress in Pyongyang, the United States was not relaxing the current sanctions regime or changing its “ironclad” commitment to defend allies South Korea and Japan.
Pompeo spoke after North Korea said the talks “brought us in a dangerous situation where we may be shaken in our unshakable will for denuclearisation, rather than consolidating trust.”
The statement was carried by the official KCNA news agency on Saturday soon after Pompeo left Pyongyang, raising questions about the future of talks in which he is trying to persuade Pyongyang to give up a nuclear weapons programme that threatens the United States.
“That was a fairly serious insult directed against Pompeo,” said Christopher Hill, who formerly served as US ambassador to South Korea and lead negotiator with North Korea.
Kim made a broad commitment in Singapore to “work toward denuclearisation” but did not give details on how or when he would dismantle North Korea’s nuclear programme. Trump offered security guarantees to Pyongyang and pledged to suspend the large-scale military drills with South Korea.
Leaked US intelligence findings have concluded that North Korea does not intend to give up its nuclear programme completely.
North Korea’s latest comments were a reminder of the difficulties that previous US administrations had negotiating with the reclusive state.
“I think it was a pretty bad start to the process, but it doesn’t mean it’s over yet,” said Hill, noting that North Korea talks were tough by nature.
“Most of the time you don’t come back with anything. Most of the time you come back empty-handed,” Hill added.
Pompeo said he did not meet Kim on his latest visit to Pyongyang, as he had twice before, and he had not anticipated doing so. The White House said before the trip that he would meet Kim.
Officials from the two sides would meet next week in Panmunjom, on the border between the two Koreas, to discuss the return of the remains of roughly 7,000 US soldiers missing since the 1950-1953 Korean War.
KCNA said Pyongyang had offered to discuss declaring a formal end to the war to mark next month’s anniversary of the armistice. It said the US side had shown little interest, giving “certain conditions and excuses.”
In a speech on Sunday in Vietnam, Pompeo urged North Korea to follow the example of Vietnam, saying he believed Pyongyang could replicate Hanoi’s path to normal relations with Washington and to prosperity.
“The United States has been clear on what we seek from North Korea,” Pompeo said in Hanoi. “The choice now lies with North Korea and its people.
“If they are able to do this, they will be remembered, and Chairman Kim will be remembered, as a hero of the Korean people.”
Some analysts and lawmakers have expressed alarm that the talks appear to have run into difficulties, although others see a possible North Korean negotiating ploy.
“I see China’s hands all over this,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, saying he thought the Chinese were “pulling back” North Korea because of the US-China trade dispute.
Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, said on Twitter there was a danger of military action because Trump might now say he had tried diplomacy but was betrayed by Kim.
“But a rushed summit and demands that NK denuclearise in short order or else is not a serious test of diplomacy,” Haass tweeted.
Dipa Karmakar gold medal at Gymnastics World Cup
India’s premier gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched a gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin in Turkey on Sunday.
She returned to action after nearly two years of lay-off due to injury.
The 24-year-old from Tripura, Dipa Karmakar scored 14.150 to win gold on Sunday.
This is Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup. She had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400.
She returned to action after nearly two years of lay-off due to injury.
The 24-year-old from Tripura, Dipa Karmakar scored 14.150 to win gold on Sunday.
This is Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup. She had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400.
Dipa has also qualified in balance beam finals by finishing third in the qualification with a score of 11.850. She has been included in the 10-member Indian gymnastics team for the upcoming Asian Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Dipa Karmakar on winning a well-deserved Gold in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey.In a tweet, Mr Modi said, this win is a prime example of her tenacity and never-say-die attitude. He said, India is proud of Dipa Karmakar for her performance.
Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has congratulated Dipa Karmakar on winning the Gold Medal in the vault event at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Mersin, Turkey. The Chief Minister called Dipa as an inspiration for daughters of Tripura to excel in life and wished her best for her future endeavours.
He reiterated full support of the State Government to Dipa so that she can continue making the nation proud and win a Gold Medal for India in 2020 Olympics.
On behalf of all 37 lakh people of Tripura, the Chief Minister extended his best wishes to Dipa on this outstanding victory
Thai Cave Rescue: Another boy rescued
A fifth boy has been rescued from the cave in Thailand reports by media. Monday relatively dry day at the rescue site, rain clouds are again hovering the hills surrounding the cave system.
Thai Rescue Cave operation is an International joint efforts to rescue boys in flooded cave with various dimensions of its structure so two expert divers accompanied each boy as they battled dangerous conditions to reach safety – but the rescue is far from over.
Erdogan to be sworn President
Erdogan is set to be sworn in as president of Turkey after his election victory last month,the foreign leaders and dignitaries, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.nts.
Erodgan after assuming charge of president of Turkey, is scheduled to announce his cabinet on Monday, which may result in policy changes in a number of areas.
Turkish authorities ordered the dismissal of more than 18,500 state employees including police officers, soldiers and academics, in a decree published today. The Official Gazette said 18,632 people have been sacked including 8,998 police officers and 6,152 military personnel. Turkish media dubbed the decree as the “last” after officials previously indicated the state of emergency in place since July 2016 could end as today.
Erdogan has purged another 18,000 state workers, those dismissed include soldiers, police and academics. A TV channel and three newspapers have also been closed. More than 125,000 people fired.reports tweeters
Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab
Dominic Raab appointed Brexit Secretary after David Davis resigns from UK government. He is MP for Esher and Walton, Housing Minister.
MP for Esher and Walton, who has also served in the Justice Department, will most likely appease some of the more ardent Brexiters, and he as yet has not publicly offered a view of the position agreed at Chequers, which prompted Davis’ resignation late last night.
Davis said he could not back Theresa May’s new policy on post-Brexit trade, which he claimed would “leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one”.
During an interview with the BBC this morning, Davis insisted his departure would not damage the UK’s position because the Prime Minister was the “primary negotiator”.
Media agencies
SC: NR Agra can’t offer prayers Taj Mahal
Supreme Court today dismissed a plea challenging the Agra authority’s order debarring non-residents of the city from offering Friday prayers at a mosque in the Taj Mahal complex.
A bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said that the Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and people can offer their prayers at other mosques also.
The petition had challenged the January 24, 2018 order passed by the Additional District Magistrate Agra City which said that those who are not residents of Agra, would not be allowed to enter the mosque situated at the Taj Mahal for offering customary prayers on Fridays on security grounds.
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