CIA/DEFENSE/MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo kicked off talks in North Korea with one of leader Kim Jong Un’s top lieutenants, Gen. Kim Yong Chol, soon after arriving in Pyongyang. During his trip, Mr. Pompeo aims to fill out the details of a North Korean pledge to work toward denuclearization, including a time frame and the first steps to show Mr. Kim’s commitment. Satellite imagery, published in reports last week, showed North Korea is rapidly expanding a weapons-manufacturing plant that produces solid fuel missiles and upgraded its main nuclear research facilities. The reports suggested Pyongyang is advancing its weapons programs despite its commitment to denuclearization..Gen. Kim greeted Mr. Pompeo at the airport, along with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. U.S. officials declined to say whether leader Kim Jong Un would meet the U.S. delegation during the trip. There was no immediate readout on the outcome of the first meeting held between Mr. Pompeo and Gen. Kim on Friday. The U.S. delegation included officials from the State Department, Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency. Gen. Kim was joined by the North Korean vice-foreign minister, deputy director general for North American affairs and Asia-Pacific committee members.”
–Jessica Donati, “Pompeo Seeks Some Details on North Korea’s Nuclear Promise,” The Wall Street Journal, July 6, 2018 7:59 am