Nuclear envoys of U.S., Russia discuss N. Korea

The top nuclear envoys of the U.S. and Russia spoke over the phone on Wednesday,... to discuss continued efforts on the denuclearization of North Korea.The talks come after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, said the two countries "share the same objective" on the North.Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov held their phone conversation Wednesday,... "as part of continued U.S.-Russia discussions on their shared goal of the denuclearization of North Korea, including on the need to maintain full implementation and enforcement of existing sanctions until the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea is achieved."According to Russia's foreign ministry,... the two sides also discussed ways to "further promote the political and diplomatic process." The conversation comes as Washington and Moscow have shown gaps in their view of how denuclearization should be achieved.The U.S. insists on continuing pressure through sanctions, while Moscow advocates an easing of the sanctions in exchange for denuclearization steps.Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who held a near-two hour long meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday,... says they spoke at length about North Korea after Putin held a summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok.The top U.S. diplomat added the United States and Russia share the same goals on North Korea,... and hopes the two sides can find ways that work for everyone.Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.