North Korea demands Pompeo's removal in power play against US

Kim plans Russia visit and tests weapons to shake up stalled nuclear talks

North Korea insists Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's (far left) involvement would only "entangle" its denuclearization talks with the U.S. © Reuters

YOSUKE ONCHI and YOHEI ISHIKAWA, Nikkei staff writers

April 19, 2019 02:33 JST

Updated on April 19, 2019 03:26 JST

SEOUL/MOSCOW -- North Korea is demanding the removal of the U.S. secretary of state from their denuclearization talks, part of Pyongyang's effort to ramp up pressure on Washington, as leader Kim Jong Un also plans his first trip to Moscow.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's involvement would only "entangle" the dialogue, the North Korean Central News Agency reported a diplomatic official as saying on Thursday.