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North Korea

 KCNA

June 25, 20184 

“If Japan does not correct its ambitions regarding peace and security, it should realize the end result where Japan is passed over will be inevitable.” 

“Japan should stop its large-scale military drills and the boosting of its military capacity aimed at attacking (Korea), scrap its hostile policy against us, break with the past and show its sincerity towards peace.” 

Uriminzokkiri- Government Website 

June 24, 20185 

"The North Korean human rights act, which the cohorts of (former President) Park Geun-hye manipulated, must be abolished, while the North Korean human rights foundation, an institution designed to plot against our republic, ought to be buried away.’

 "Any attempt at maintaining confrontational remnants of the conservative cliques will do more harm than good in light of the current trends of the North-South relationship.”

USA

 Sarah Sanders- Press Secretary, White House

July 2, 20186

“To continue the ongoing and important work of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, Secretary Pompeo will be leaving for North Korea on July 5th to meet with the North Korean leader and his team.”

Regarding recent report on North Korea that it is either continuing on with its nuclear program, making efforts to enhance it, Secretary said,

“We aren’t going to confirm or deny any intelligence reports.  What I can tell you is that we’re continuing to make progress.  Ambassador Kim had a meeting just yesterday with members of the North Korean delegation.  And Secretary Pompeo, as I just mentioned, will be headed to North Korea later this week.  And we’re going to continue those conversations.”

“As far as the one-year timeline, Ambassador Bolton said if North Korea makes the decision to denuclearize, their ballistics programs could be dismantled in a year.  There’s great momentum right now for positive change, and we’re moving together for further negotiations.”

Donald Trump- President

July 1, 20187

“I think they're (North Korea) very serious about it (denuclearization).”

"I made a deal with him (Kim Jong-un). I shook hands with him. I really believe he means it."

"We had a very good chemistry."

"You know, we had a lot of points ... Not to go over them, but denuclearization, getting the remains back from great heroes, great people. So many different things."

"Now, we're saving a lot of money by not doing (joint military exercises) -- I asked -- I said let's not do the -- I call them the war games, OK?"

"They're dropping bombs all over the place every six months. It's unbelievably expensive to do that. The planes fly in from Guam, these massive, you know, bombers.”

"So, we gave nothing. What we are going to give is good things in the future. And by the way, I really believe North Korea has a tremendous future. I got along really well with Chairman Kim.”

June 28, 20188

"We were very close to going to war. You could have lost 30 million people, 50 million people. I had the meeting. We had a great relationship. We had a great chemistry together."

"And so, we have things cooking now. You're going to be so happy. But when people rush it -- you know, it's like rushing the turkey out of the stove. It's not going to be as good.”

"But here's what we do. The more they rush, the worse it's going to be. The longer we take, the better. Your farmers, your people are going to be great.” 

John Bolton- National Security Advisor

July 1, 20189

"We have developed a program. I'm sure that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be discussing with the North Koreans in the near future about really how to dismantle all of their WMD and ballistic missile programs in a year.”

"What our experts have devised is a program that, with North Korean cooperation, with full disclosure of all of their chemical and biological, nuclear programs, ballistic missile sites ... physically, we would be able to dismantle the overwhelming bulk of their programs within a year.”

"The president would like to see these discussions move promptly to get a resolution.”

 "This has been the advice that China's leader, Xi Jinping, has given us as well. So we're going to try and proceed to implement what the two leaders agreed to in Singapore." 

Statement- State Department

June 29, 201810

“Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They discussed ongoing efforts to achieve our shared goal of the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Secretary noted that the DPRK has a bright future if it denuclearizes and emphasized the continued importance of full enforcement of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions related to North Korea, especially as they relate to North Korea's illegal exports of coal and imports of refined petroleum through UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers.”

Jim Mattis- Secretary of Defense

June 29, 201811

“Regarding the Korean Peninsula situation, our diplomats are firmly in the lead, and aligned with the agreement signed by President Trump and Chairman Kim at their summit earlier this month.  As our diplomats work to bring this agreement to fruition, the U.S. military, in close coordination with our allies and partners, continues its clear-eyed approach, supporting international sanctions and multiple unanimous U.N. Security Council resolutions.”

“We also recognize the importance of the Japanese abductee issue, something President Trump raised at the last summit, and a humanitarian issue always present in our deliberations.”

“Regarding the pause in U.S.-ROK joint military exercises, this decision was taken to create space for our diplomats to negotiate strongly, and increasing the prospects for a peaceful solution on the peninsula.”

“At the same time, we maintain a strong, collaborative defensive stance to ensure our diplomats continue to negotiate from a position of unquestioned strength.”

“Our objective remains the complete, irreversible and verifiable dismantling of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.  Especially now, we remain vigilant, and I thank Japan for its ceaseless efforts to promote stability and security.”

June 28, 201812

“The recent decision to suspend the Freedom Guardian exercise creates increased opportunity for our diplomats to negotiate, increasing prospects for a peaceful solution on the peninsula.  At the same time, the U.S. and ROK forces remain united, vigilant and ready to defend against any challenge.”

June 26, 201813

"That (North Korean missile) capability still exists today, so clearly we take that very, very seriously. But our hopes are riding with the diplomats, so we're going to see progress in the days and weeks ahead."

June 24, 201814

"The United Nations Command in ROK, in the Republic of Korea, is prepared, now, to receive those remains. They have staged appropriate logistics materials, and we simply are standing by for whenever the diplomatic activities are done. And we're optimistic that it will begin because that was an agreement coming out of Singapore."

Mike Pompeo- Secretary of State

June 24, 201815

“There are understandings that had been put together prior to the summit, some that took place while the President was there in Singapore, that have, I think, put us on the right trajectory so that we can build out a framework for success.”

“But none of that can happen, none of that framework can be filled out, absent the two primary decision makers – in North Korea, the decision maker making clear his intent to denuclearize. I heard it myself when I visited there as CIA director, I heard it myself when I visited Pyongyang as Secretary of State, and I heard it again when there was a group together with the President and Chairman Kim. He has been unequivocal in his statement that he’s prepared to do this. We’ve seen for the first time them talk about that inside of North Korea.”

“We’ll constantly reassess. That’s an ongoing process. And we’ll – we hope that we will have an ongoing process of making progress… I’m not going to put a timeline on it. But whether that’s in two months or six months, we’re committed to moving forward in an expeditious manner to see if we can achieve what it is the two leaders set out to do.”

Donald Trump -President

June 22, 201816

In message to the Congress extending national emergency with respect to North Korea declared in through Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, Executive Order 13551 of August 30, 2010, Executive Order 13570 of April 18, 2011, Executive Order 13687 of January 2, 2015, Executive Order 13722 of March 15, 2016, and Executive Order 13810 of September 20, 2017, President Trump stated,

“The existence and risk of proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula; the actions and policies of the Government of North Korea that destabilize the Korean Peninsula and imperil United States Armed Forces, allies, and trading partners in the region, including its pursuit of nuclear and missile programs; and other provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies of the Government of North Korea continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 with respect to North Korea.” 

Mike Pompeo- Secretary of State

June 22, 201817

“The conversations between the United States and North Korea have been bilateral talks, just the two of us. We are working to strike a deal, a deal that Chairman Kim has signed up for, where there will be a bargain where he will fully denuclearize, he will permit us to verify that complete denuclearization, and in exchange for that we’ll provide security assurances.”

“You know the story well. For decades the North Korean leadership – Chairman Kim, his father and grandfather alike – believed the nuclear program was their security out; it provided them with regime stability and security. And we’ve now flipped that narrative. I believe we have convinced him that that nuclear program, in fact, presents a threat to him and that giving up that program is the path towards a brighter future for the North Korean people.”

“He’s (Kim Jong-un) bright. He knows the file. He knows the topic very, very well. He’s not turning to others for guidance. It is Chairman Kim who was clearly articulating what you heard him say when he was in Singapore, that he is prepared to fully denuclearize.”

“We are confident that the biggest threat to the United States, Chairman Kim’s nuclear program, is the place we need to begin. And if we are successful, if we can get the outcome we hope to have, we think we create a greater probability that human rights conditions not only in North Korea but around the world may well improve.”

Statement- Department of Defense

June 22, 201818

“On June 22, Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joe Dunford, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Ambassador John Bolton to discuss efforts to implement the results of the Singapore Summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim.”
 
“To support implementing the outcomes of the Singapore Summit, and in coordination with our Republic of Korea ally, Secretary Mattis has indefinitely suspended select exercises.  This includes suspending FREEDOM GUARDIAN along with two Korean Marine Exchange Program training exercises scheduled to occur in the next three months. In support of upcoming diplomatic negotiations led by Secretary Pompeo, additional decisions will depend upon the DPRK continuing to have productive negotiations in good faith.”

Donald Trump- President

June 21, 201819

"They've (North Korea) stopped the sending of missiles, including ballistic missiles. They're destroying their engine site. They're blowing it up.” 

"They've already blown up one of their big test sites. In fact, it was actually four of their big test sites. And the big thing is, it will be a total denuclearization, which is already starting taking place." 

"They want to get it done. We want to get it done. And we're moving quickly.” 

Heather Nauert – Spokesperson, State Department

June 21, 201820

"Secretary Pompeo will be meeting with them (North Korea) and talking with them at the earliest possible date to try to implement the outcomes of the U.S.-DPRK summit.” 

South Korea

Cho Myoung-gyon- Unification Minister

July 2, 201821

"Our broad direction in the autumn summit will focus on allowing peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula to be pursued in earnest and among other things institutionalizing sustainable relations between the two Koreas."

Official- Ministry of Defense

July 1, 201822

On July 1, 2018, The South Korean military has put on hold reconstruction plans for army bases located in frontline areas within 5-10 kilometers of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

"We have put off new building plans for some 90-100 army units categorized as Alpha in the Forward Edge of Battle Area (FEBA)."

"As inter-Korean relations improve further and security conditions change, there will be a need for additional changes in frontline areas. ... If we proceed with the planned construction now, the cost would be large when alterations need to be made."

Cho Myoung-gyon- Unification Minister

June 29, 201823

"North Korea and the U.S. are expected to sit down together again at an early date, give shape to ways for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and security guarantee for North Korea, and start a peace process.”

"In the denuclearization process down the road, (South Korea) will facilitate negotiations through efforts based on South-North relations, if necessary." 

Choo Mi-ae- Chairwoman, Democratic Party (ruling party)

June 29, 201824

"Complete denuclearization (CD) is a target, and verifiable and irreversible (VI) means a process (for that goal).”

"The fact that the North reaffirmed its commitment to complete denuclearization in exchange for security assurance pointed to a bold decision (by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un). It also means the success of President Moon Jae-in's peace diplomacy.”

Kim Sung-tae- Acting  chief and floor leader, Liberty Korea Party (LKP- main opposition party)

June 29, 201825

"The North is engaged in negotiations with forward-looking attitudes more than ever before.”

"It was not a small outcome that the ultimate goal is to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula. But the detailed roadmap for the North's denuclearization is still shrouded in a veil.”

Lee Nak-yoon - Prime Minister

July 27, 201826

"But it's hard to carry out projects related to the U.N. sanctions, including the connection of railways and roads.”

"We will conduct a preliminary study before the sanctions are removed."

"It would be very difficult for him to shift back to an era of military confrontation.”

"North Korea understands that complete denuclearization is associated with security guarantees."

Kim Eun-kyung- Minister of Environment

June 27, 201827

"The environment sector, which is irrelevant to political, economic and military issues, will play an important role in the early stages of inter-Korean cooperation."

"Many inter-Korean environment cooperation projects were planned until the middle of the 2000s but never materialized due to deteriorating inter-Korean relations.”

"It is now clear that there is a desperate need for cooperation, as much of North Korea's forests are devastated, major rivers are polluted and a clean water supply is not available to the people.”

"The government will push for inter-Korean environmental cooperation quietly and carefully in order not to disturb efforts for denuclearization and lasting peace.”

Spokesperson- Ministry of Sports

June 25, 201828

South Korean sports ministry announced that, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to hold four basketball matches in Pyongyang in July.

“We'll have about 100 South Korean nationals traveling, including male and female players, members of their support staff and broadcasting crew. They will travel via a direct air route between Seoul and Pyongyang over the Yellow Sea."

Statement- Unification Ministry

June 25, 201829

South Korea announced a series of working-level talks with North Korea in this week on bilateral economic projects in order to follow up on the April 27 agreement between their leaders. These includes a working level meeting on  linking and modernizing cross-border railways on June 26, road-related cooperation on June 28 and forestry cooperation on June  27.

"Through the sub-committee meetings on railway, road and forestry cooperation, (we) will faithfully discuss ways to implement the Panmunjom Declaration with a view to laying the groundwork for the sustainable development of South-North relations and the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Moon Jae-in – President

June 22, 201830

During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, President Moon said, 

"We two leaders have closely cooperated while sharing the common goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of permanent peace."

"I express my deep gratitude in that Russia has actively supported the progress in conditions on the Korean Peninsula such as the successful South-North Korea summit and the North Korea-U.S. summit. I will continue to closely consult with the Russian government and work with it to completely and swiftly implement the outcome of the South-North Korean summit and the North Korea-U.S. summit." 

"I believe South Korea and Russia are key cooperation partners on the Korean Peninsula and the Eurasian continent and therefore place great importance on strategic cooperation with Russia as an important part of our government's foreign and security policies." 

June 21, 201831

 “When a peace regime is established on the Korean Peninsula, economic cooperation between the South and North Korea will take off and will be expanded to three-way cooperation with Russia." 

Park Kyung-seo-  Head of the Korean Red Cross

June 22, 201832

 The two Koreas agreed to hold reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War from Aug. 20-26 in the latest reconciliatory move between the two countries. The agreement was made during an inter-Korean Red Cross meeting held at a hotel on Mount Kumgang, North Korea to arrange the family reunion event and discuss other humanitarian issues as agreed upon by their leaders during their summit in April.

"We agreed to cooperate in tackling the root problem related to the separated family issue based on humanitarian principles.”

"We made a very precious agreement today. Now is just the beginning. To make this beginning further stimulated, the North and the South should work together." 

Statement- Office of the President

June 21, 201833

"President Moon and Prime Minister Medvedev agreed to strengthen the strategic communication between the two countries to assist complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace, noting the positive change in conditions taking place on the Korean Peninsula, such as the two South-North Korea summits and the June 12 North Korea-U.S. summit, are creating new possibilities for cooperation between South Korea and Russia." 

"President Moon suggested the countries reach an agreement on the pursuit of three-way cooperation projects between South Korea, North Korea and Russia during his visit to Russia and set up detailed actions plans in the future based on the outcome of joint studies."  

Chun Hae-sung- Vice Unification Minister

June 21, 201834

"I know that there are many people expecting (increased inter-Korean exchanges) but the reality is that I cannot talk only about good things.”

"Still, there are sanctions in place imposed by the international community, including the United States, against the North.”

"Discussion could start on removing sanctions when denuclearization materializes."

China

Lu Kang- Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry

July 2, 201835

“We are truly gratified to see that recently the DPRK and the ROK have conducted positive contacts and interactions in many fields and achieved more and more consensus and outcomes.”

“Under the current circumstances, the DPRK and the ROK following the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration, earnestly implementing the consensus by their leaders at the two summits and continuously promoting reconciliation and cooperation are conducive to cementing their mutual trust and improving their relations, and will play a positive role in sustaining and consolidating the momentum for detente on the Korean Peninsula.” 

Russia

Vladimir Putin-President 

June 22, 201836 

During his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in President Putin said, 

“Our approaches to resolving pressing global issues, including the issue of North Korea’s nuclear program, largely coincide.” 

June 22, 201837

 “While discussing the international agenda, special attention was paid to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. It was noted that the situation in that region has been gradually improving lately.”

“Inter-Korean contacts have been re-established. Two meetings between the leaders of North and South Korea resulted in encouraging agreements.” 

“In the same context we would like to mention the results of the recent US – North Korea summit in Singapore on June 12. We welcome Pyongyang’s and Washington’s willingness to resolve the crisis comprehensively through dialogue and talks.” 

“We hope that this will make it possible to considerably reduce the tension around the Korean Peninsula and in the future to create conditions for building a stable security system for all countries in the region.” 

Japan