MUSCAT: US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday he would not be speaking about the delicate situation with North Korea, saying the White House and State Department are leading the negotiations. “This is a diplomatically led effort,” Mattis told reporters when asked about a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Mattis was among the senior officials present in the White House when Trump accepted the invitation. Chung said Kim is committed to denuclearisation, and Kim had pledged that North Korea would refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests during talks. Mattis did not comment when asked about Foal Eagle joint drills with South Korea, which are expected to begin in the coming weeks.--AFP

Source: New Strait Times March 11, 2018 23:03 UTC