Whoever its leader, Washington wants a nuclear-free North Korea

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The United States will continue to seek the denuclearization of North Korea whoever its leader, declared, Wednesday Wednesday April 22, the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo, while rumors circulate on the health of Kim Jong-un , the North Korean leader.

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In an interview with the American channel Fox News, the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo recalled that he had met the influential sister of the North Korean leader, Kim Yo-jong, whose recent rise in the hierarchy has led certain specialists to see in it a possible successor. "  I have had the opportunity to meet her a few times, but the challenge remains the same, the objective remains unchanged, whoever heads North Korea  ," said the head of American diplomacy.

"  A brighter future  "

Mike Pompeo reiterated the promise of the United States to bring to the North Korean people "  a brighter future  " if the power of Pyongyang gives up its nuclear arsenal. "  They must denuclearize. They have to do it in such a way that we can verify it. This is true regardless of who heads North Korea  , ”said the secretary of state.

Pompeo visited North Korea four times in 2018. He then helped organize historic summits between President Donald Trump and Kim, after more than half a century of hostility between Pyongyang and Washington. But hopes of a breakthrough that would have occurred before the US presidential election next November have diminished. The missile tests controversial were conducted by North Korea and the US have rejected Pyongyang's demands for an easing of sanctions on North Korea as a prelude to a complete denuclearization .

"  Good luck  " to Mr. Kim

Daily NK, an online media outlet run mainly by defected North Koreans, said that Kim Jong-un had been operated on in April for cardiovascular problems and was recovering. The South Korean authorities have downplayed this information. A senior South Korean official quoted by the Yonhap news agency said on condition of anonymity that it was "  not true  " that Kim Jong-un was seriously ill.

President Trump wished  Mr. Kim " good luck " on Tuesday  , noting that rumors of possible health problems had not been confirmed. And the United States' deputy chief of staff, General John Hyten, said on Wednesday that the Pentagon had no information to say that Kim Jong-un had lost control of the North Korean nuclear program.

( with AFP )

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• North Korea
• United States
• Kim Jong-un
• Defense