To combat this perception, the administration has emphasized a hard line: No sanctions relief unless and until North Korea has totally and verifiably denuclearized. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared on NBC News last week and played up what he labeled as the toughest sanctions North Korea has ever faced. “The core economic sanctions, the sanctions that prevent countries from conducting trade, creating wealth for North Korea, those sanctions are definitely going to remain in place. “Until North Korea eliminates its weapons of mass destruction, our sanctions and those at the United Stations will remain — United Nations — will remain in effect,” he said. Edson then asked him whether the administration’s position remained the same, that North Korea had to give up its nuclear arms to get any sanctions relief.

Source: Washington Post February 26, 2019 19:41 UTC