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| Russian President Vladimir Putin among fellow Russians carrying portraits of their relatives, participants in World War II, during an Immortal Regiment memorial commemoration in Moscow, May 9, when Russia marked the 74th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. EPA-Yonhap |
The United States will continue to hold conversations with Russia on ways to move forward with North Korea's denuclearization, a senior U.S. official said Friday.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to travel to Russia next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on various issues including North Korea, the State Department official told reporters.
The meetings follow North Korea's recent launch of short-range missiles, an apparent sign of Pyongyang's frustration with Washington over the stalled nuclear disarmament talks.
The trip will also be an opportunity for Pompeo to hear about Putin's first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok last month.
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| Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives to meet Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, May 9, 2019, at the Department of State in Washington. AP-Yonhap |
"We have open channels of communication on a range of key issues ― like Afghanistan, North Korea, and counterterrorism ― where engagement with Russia can advance U.S. interests," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He noted that U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has already been engaging with the Russians about how to achieve "our shared goal" of North Korea's final and fully verified denuclearization.
"These have been constructive discussions," the official said. "Even though we don't agree with Russia about all the details of how to achieve this goal, we will continue dialogue to bridge gaps on the way forward."
The U.S. has insisted on keeping sanctions pressure on the North until it ends all of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Russia has favored a phased approach and called for an easing of United Nations Security Council sanctions in return for North Korea's steps toward denuclearization. (Yonhap)
