US Beats Curtain to Reach “Major Disarmament” Deal with North Korea in 2.5‑Year Sprint
Picture this: a U.S. President, a North Korean leader, and an entire world’s eyes on a zero‑ing bungalow in Singapore. That’s where Donald Trump and Kim Jong‑Un met on June 13, 2018 for the first president‑to‑president talk on North Korea’s nuclear such‑ness. The result? A brief, breathless agreement that the two sides will “work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.” That’s a line short on the juicy if‑you‑want‑to‑disarm numbers, but the stakes were huge.
Who Was There & What Happened
- President Trump flew into Singapore with a speech‑ready smile.
- North Korean head Kim showed up with a distinctly calm demeanor.
- Both signed an agreement that basically said, “We’ll eventually get rid of nukes.”
- Crucially, no timeline or verification plan made it to the final scribble.
Pompeo’s Quick Take in Seoul
Two days after the Singapore summit, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Seoul to brief Korean leaders. One question moved him into stammer‑mode: could they hit a “major disarmament” within the rest of Trump’s term?
Pompeo’s answer: “-OH, yes! Absolutely— we’re hopeful we can finish that in the next 2.5 years.” He promised “in‑depth verification” (a phrase that sounded as reassuring as a lullaby).
Where the Paper Met the Gap
- The final written pact didn’t fully capture all the understandings between the two camps.
- Pompeo admitted there is still “work to do” in places that were omitted.
- So, while the Stars & Stripes swagger over a “nothing‑to‑lose” vibe, the gory details are still under the table.
Trump’s Take & Critics’ Take
- Trump hailed the meeting as a “success” that nuked the North Korean threat from the headlines.
- Sounds great, right? Critics say the statement is barely detailed and that Trump “made too many concessions.”
What’s Next on the Calendar?
Pompeo plays “game of follow‑up.” “I don’t know the exact timing for the next conversation with North Koreans,” he says, “but we’ll be engaging pretty fast after we loop back to our home jurisdictions.”
Essentially, the U.S. is aiming to keep that momentum alive—hoping the next week sees some “real engagement” and a concrete step toward disarming the Korean Peninsula.
Takeaway in Quick‑Fire Bullet Form
- Singapore summit: big names, minimal words.
- Pompeo: ambitious 2.5‑year cap, “in‑depth verification” promise.
- Sealing the deal: still missing details due to the paper’s brevity.
- Trump: victory saga; critics: concession overload.
- Next phase: fast follow‑up, pending the real talks.
All in all, the world watches as the U.S. beams, the North Koreans grin, and the bullets of negotiation stall wanting finer detail. The clock’s ticking—how fast can the promises turn into python‑sized actions? Only time—and the next diplomatic trip—can tell.
