North Korea Summit: 'denuclearization' remains largely undefined

The Summit between the leaders of America and North Korea is fast approaching.

But the details of what both side wants is still being worked out.

Top of the list is denuclearization. But it's still not clear exactly
what that means to President Trump and Kim Jong un.

Nick Harper reports from New York.

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TAKE VO
President Trump's position is clear: denuclearization is the deal he wants.
And for the US administration officials like Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo it comes down to this.

SOT - Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
"The complete verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the
Korea peninsula."

TAKE VO
But while that may sound precise the President has, at times, hinted
at some wiggle room - that denuclearization could happen in stages.

SOT - Donald Trump, U.S. President
"It would certainly be better if it were all in one. Does it have to
be? I don't think I want to totally commit myself. But all in one
would be a lot better. "

TAKE VO
Stephen Noerper is the Senior director for policy at the Korea Society.

SOT: Stephen Noerper, Senior director for policy, Korea Society
"There are concerns across the senior US administration in terms of
the consistency of the messaging and perhaps a lack of understanding
at times on Trump's part. If there's suggestion by the president of
flexibility that's not consistent with the opinion of his advisors."

TAKE VO
Denuclearization also appears to mean different things to different leaders.
Kim Jong un's seems to want something in return, with his definition
including the removal of the so-called US nuclear umbrella that
provides safety to South Korean and Japan.

TAKE VO
And if that denuclearization phrase caused confusion, another has
caused consternation.

"The Libya Model"
"We're looking at the Libya Model."

TAKE VO
Pyongyang's fury at the phrase led North Korea to brand Mike Pence
stupid and view national security adviser John Bolton with repugnance.
Here's World Policy Institute fellow Jonathan Cristol.

SOT - Jonathan Cristol, Fellow, World Policy Institute
"It was major mistake to compare North Korea to Libya. // If you're
trying to get North Korea to give up its WMD programs I'm sure why you
would compare that with a process that ended with the leader being
dragged from a ditch and being beaten to death."

TAKE VO
Secretary of State Pompeo needed two days of meetings in New York to
salvage the summit.
He reassured North Korea's General Kim Jong Chol regime change is not
America's aim.

SOT - Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State
But many conversations have been had about how we might perceive what
the path might be forward so that we can achieve both the
denuclearization that the world demands of North Korea and the
security assurances that would be required for them to allow us to
achieve that."

TAKE VO
North Korea has now destroyed its underground nuclear test site.
But that could be interpreted more as a goodwill gesture rather than
an capitulation to overnight denuclearization.

TAKE VO
Denuclearization is desired. But the definition and timeline of that
is still not clear.
It unlikely to happen overnight. And the White House has already
hinted that more meetings will be needed beyond the initial meet and
greet of the Singapore Summit.

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