Our top story this morning....
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says a proposed second summit between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. MUST result in a detailed list of North Korean nuclear weapons sites,... but Washignton will NOT request the list before the summit.
Lee Seung-jae starts us off.
In an interview with NBC News on Thursday,... U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said the proposed second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump must result in a "verifiable plan" to disclose the regime's nuclear sites.
Pence also said the North must allow outside inspectors into the sites, as well as provide a plan for dismantling its nuclear weapons.
However, according to Pence,... the U.S. will not demand a list of nuclear weapons sites before the summit.
Observers say such a list would be a serious sign North Korea is serious about giving up its nuclear arsenal.
Washington has pressed Pyeongyang to provide information on the entirety of its nuclear operations,... but the North keeps refusing to do so.
Pence reiterated there had been "tremendous progress" in negotiations with North Korea so far,... namely North Korea's lack of missile and nuclear testing,... as well as the return of U.S. hostages and the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War.
That said, Pence added the U.S. will maintain its hardline pressure on the North by keeping sanctions in place.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
