Trump says N Korea talks ‘going well’

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday talks with North Korea were making progress despite reports Kim Jong Un’s regime had stepped up its nuclear programme after the two leaders held a historic summit.

"Many good conversations with North Korea-it is going well!" he tweeted. "In the meantime, no Rocket Launches or Nuclear Testing in 8 months. "All of Asia is thrilled. Only the Opposition Party, which includes the Fake News, is complaining. If not for me, we would now be at War with North Korea!"

Trump’s comments came as his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was to head back to North Korea on Thursday to flesh out the bare bones nuclear agreement signed by the two leaders during their summit meeting in Singapore last month.

Trump has boasted that the statement resolved the old foes’ nuclear stand-off, but Pompeo has been tasked with nailing down details. There have been reports Kim’s regime has failed to honor its denuclearisation pledge after the June 12 meeting.

The Washington Post on Sunday quoted four unnamed US officials who were briefed on intelligence findings that point to preparations for deceiving the United States, while NBC news has said Pyongyang is increasing its nuclear fuel production.