Pompeo meets Japanese, South Korean allies after denuclearization talks with Pyongyang

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

JULY 7, 2018 / 6:51 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

David Brunnstrom, Nobuhiro Kubo
2 MIN READ

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a series of meetings with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Sunday after North Korea accused him of making "gangster-like" demands during two-days of talks in Pyongyang.

That North Korean assessment contradicted comments made on Saturday by Pompeo, who said he had made progress on "almost all of the central issues."

At the start of a breakfast meeting with Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono in Tokyo on Sunday, Pompeo did not reply when a reporter asked him to respond to North Korea's statement.

"The high-level talks this time brought us in a dangerous situation where we may be shaken in our unshakable will for denuclearization, rather than consolidating trust between the DPRK and the U.S.," a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency on Saturday.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-usa-japan-southko/pompeo-meets-japanese-south-korean-allies-after-denuclearization-talks-with-pyongyang-idUSKBN1JX143?rpc=401&

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U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) shakes hands with Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono prior to
their breakfast meeting in Tokyo, Japan, July 8, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/PoolREUTERS

[sakabatou]

1. I'm pretty sure Japan and South Korea are angry at us

[Judi Lynn]

2. I wish we could get through the message to them that it's the entire Republican Party's fault. n/t

[C_U_L8R]

3. The Japanese Foreign Minister's face says it all

that's a look of no confidence.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Yes, it surely does. The guy sees right through the hustle. n/t

[msongs]

4. Mr. Kono.s grimace looks a tad forced to me nt

[Sneederbunk]

6. Sorry Mr. Kono. We have a president that lies.

[Takket]

7. i would start by asking Pompeo "what the actual fuck are you and your stupid ass boss doing?"

[Marcuse]

8. Leaked videotape of the Kono/Pompeo breakfast meeting:

[marble falls]

9. Gee I bet that was some uncomortable moments as they just kept ...

grinning, bowing, doing shots and blushing and shrugging shoulders, mumblings of "oh well, you know Trump-san."

Just 'shock and doh.'

[soryang]

10. South Korean media report Kono was pleased with Pompeo's position in the talks

The South Koreans might be a little worried, as the possibility of these talks going completely off the rails is more likely than it was before Pompeo went to Pyongyang. Foreign Minister Kang played along with the holding hands routine. It seemed somewhat awkward but she always puts the best face on everything. Pompeo should have been in the middle, as Kono maneuvered into the center on the photo of the three foreign policy representatives of the respective states. The crossed arms was an odd gesture.