U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fourth visit to Pyeongyang seems to have been a success.
North Korea has agreed to an inspection of one of its nuclear facilities that's already been dismantled, to prove the process is irreversible.
However,... it appears the North got what it wanted as well.
Lee Ji-won has more.
North Korea has invited inspectors to visit the Punggye-ri nuclear test site to confirm it has been irreversibly dismantled.
After U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to the North on Sunday, the State Department said Pompeo and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held productive discussions on the four elements contained in the Singapore Joint statement,... as well as the upcoming second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim.
Many watchers are viewing Pompeo's fourth visit to Pyeongyang as quite successful as it may signal the North is open to inspection and verification.
The test site is where all of the regime's six nuclear tests have been conducted, and back in May, Pyeongyang blew up the site,... also destroying security checkpoints and other facilities.
Despite the North's voluntary moves thus far, many are still skeptical it may be a show, which could be reversed as there were no inspectors or experts present at the site, only reporters.
To make further progress, Kim and Pompeo also agreed to instruct their respective working-level teams to meet soon to intensify discussions on the key remaining issues.
The North also seemed satisfied with Sunday's talks.
On Monday,... North Korea's state-run media Korean Central News Agency reported on the meeting, adding Kim expressed satisfaction over the "productive and wonderful talks" with Pompeo, where their mutual stands were "fully understood".
Kim also reportedly expressed his belief that a "good" program will be arranged "sooner or later" for his second summit with President Trump.
Pyeongyang's reactions are in stark contrast to Pompeo's last visit in July, where North Korea slammed the U.S. delegates for only seeking unilateral demands.
But what Washington gave the North in exchange for the inspection of Punggye-ri is still unclear.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
