Economic development options after complete denuclearisation: US to N Korea

Reaffirming their resolve for a "bright" future for the Korean Peninsula, the United States on Friday (local time) held on to their stand of "working to ensure" economic development options only when North Korea "follows through on its commitment to complete denuclearization."

"The President has made clear that should North Korea follow through on its commitment to complete denuclearization, we will work to ensure there are economic development options," a statement issued by The White House on Friday (local time) outlines.

This stand had earlier led to a stalemate between the USA and North Korea following the first US-North Korea summit held in Singapore last year.

Pyongyang has repeatedly called for relief in sanctions in recognition of the steps the country has taken towards denuclearisation, while the United States has said that such a step would only be taken after North Korea's complete denuclearisation.

The statement lauds US President Donald Trump's "bold new diplomacy," which has led to the improvement of US-north Korea relations. The statement also outlines the "maximum pressure campaign" which has been implemented by Trump to achieve "real progress" on North Korea.

"Prior to President Trump, efforts to negotiate limits on the DPRK's nuclear program failed, despite billions of dollars in payment under prior administrations. Upon taking office, President Trump built an unprecedented international coalition to demonstrate that the world would not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea," the statement highlights.

"The international coalition mobilized by President Trump implemented a maximum pressure campaign and the President has called on all countries to comply with these sanctions," the White House press release puts forth.

The White House press statement has been issued in the run-up to the second US-North Korea summit slated to take place in Vietnam on February 27 and 28.

The impending summit aims to make further progress on the commitments made by both Washington and Pyongyang during the Singapore Summit in 2018, which includes "lasting and stable peace," and the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.