WASHINGTON -- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump remains unchanged in its policy to press North Korea to achieve "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization," despite Pyongyang's announcement to suspend its nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
The United States plans to maintain pressure on the country and renew calls for its denuclearization during preparatory meetings for the U.S.-North Korea summit slated for sometime before mid-June.
The Trump administration has continuously demanded North Korea publicly announce it will halt nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
At a press conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, Trump said of the planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, "If we don't think it's going to be successful ... we won't have it." The statement implicitly urged North Korea to adopt a sincere attitude toward denuclearization.
Washington views Pyongyang's announcement to suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site as a response to the Trump administration's demands.
"Welcome news," U.S. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted, expressing guarded optimism over Pyongyang's latest decision.
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