Top US diplomat hoping to nail down details with Pyongyang

The solution to tensions on the Korean Peninsula lie not only in denuclearization but also in a new peace mechanism, a Chinese expert said, as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday aiming to push the implementation of details agreed during the DPRK-US summit last month in Singapore.

Pompeo was met at the Pyongyang airport by Kim Yong-chol, a senior ruling party official and former intelligence chief of the DPRK, and Ri Yong-ho, the country's foreign minister. This is Pompeo's third visit since April and the first since the June 12 summit between Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK, and US President Donald Trump.

Pompeo has the task of dispelling growing skepticism over how serious Pyongyang is about giving up its nuclear arsenal. He must also translate the upbeat rhetoric following the first meeting between the two leaders, according to The Associated Press.

"Our leaders made commitments at the Singapore summit on the complete denuclearization of the DPRK and outlined what a transformed US-DPRK relationship could look like," Pompeo said while en route, according to comments relayed to reporters on his plane by spokeswoman Heather Nauert.

"On this trip I'm seeking to fill in some details on these commitments and continue the momentum toward implementation of what the two leaders promised each other and the world. I expect that the DPRK is ready to do the same."

Li Chengri, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the meaning of the trip is far more than discussing the denuclearization of the peninsula; it is also a question of where things are heading.

"Pyongyang has issued a statement that it would suspend nuclear tests, and it has abandoned its nuclear test site in the northern region. In response, Washington announced a suspension of joint military exercises by the US and the Republic of Korea," he said. "So the point lies in what the next step will be."

Li said a possible solution is to establish a peace mechanism on the peninsula, which may involve more than just the DPRK and the US but also China, the ROK and Japan, in line with one of the points of agreement - to "build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula".

Also on Pompeo's agenda is the return of remains of those identified as US soldiers during the 1950-53 Korean War. Both sides have suggested Pyongyang is willing to turn over dozens, or possibly hundreds, of sets of remains, according to the AP.

Li said this might be the easiest goal to reach during this visit, and it could help ease tension if achieved.

Pyongyang is Pompeo's first stop on an around-the-world trip as the top US diplomat. He is scheduled to spend a day and a half in the DPRK, and then continue the trip on Saturday to Japan, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates before heading to Belgium, where he will accompany Trump at the NATO summit in Brussels.

AP contributed to the story.