North Korea ready to dismantle Yongbyon facilities in exchange for partial removal of sanctions - top diplomat

HANOI, February 28. /TASS/. Pyongyang requested Washington partially remove sanctions, particularly those affecting civilian industries and common people, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told an emergency briefing following the Hanoi summit between the US and North Korean leaders. The briefing involved a limited number of journalists, including TASS correspondents. "We requested that only some sanctions be lifted, particularly those that are harmful to civilian industries and common people. We did not ask for a full removal of sanctions," he stressed. According to the North Korean top diplomat, in return, Pyongyang suggested dismantling all nuclear facilities at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center. "We also vowed to suspend all missile and nuclear tests," he emphasized, adding that North Korea was ready to provide written guarantees. "Our current offers are the most we can do at the moment but it is hard to say if the parties will be able to make agreements based on mutual proposals. However, North Korea’s current stance will not change even if the United States suggests holding new talks," Ri Yong Ho said, adding that apart from what North Korea had mentioned, the US had demanded Pyongyang take "one more additional step." The North Korean foreign minister noted that the country’s delegation had decided to hold a news conference in order to clarify its position on the Hanoi summit’s outcome. On February 27-28, the Vietnamese capital hosted a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The parties did not sign a joint document but agreed to maintain dialogue. Read more