SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reached a “satisfactory consensus” with a top US official, North Korean media reported Thursday, prompting speculations that the two countries may be narrowing the gap over denuclearization. According to North Korean media, Kim a”nd US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed “the acute situation of the Korean Peninsula,” and reached a satisfactory consensus on the issues discussed, without elaborating on details. With the “acute situation” indicating North Korea’s nuclear program, experts believe the US has agreed to accept a large portion of North Korea’s phased approach toward denuclearization. The US has been highlighting its commitment to achieving complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization carried out swiftly, without giving North Korea concessions until the end of the process. Kim and Trump originally agreed to meet each other in May, but the meeting may take place in June.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 10, 2018 09:11 UTC