The United States marked progress when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a document to commit to denuclearization, but there many steps remain before that will happen, Rep. Lee Zeldin said Tuesday.
"Next, we have to make sure that there is total accounting and verification, that there is total denuclearization of North Korea," the New York Republican, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News' Harris Faulkner on "Outnumbered Overtime."
"Next, we have to be sure that there is total accounting and complete verification that there is total denuclearization of North Korea."
In the days and weeks ahead, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to North Korea, where the United States will have to "look our adversary in the eye," said Zeldin.
And, if there is evidence that North Korea is cheating or going in the wrong direction, the United States will have to put them on the spot and ensure the talks are going in the right direction, said Zeldin.
"We cannot be trusting North Korea, that all you do is sign a commitment and then they get to spend the next few months and years ahead, hopefully pursuing the right direction," said Zeldin, adding that a push must be made for a signed agreement with Kim that allows United States weapons inspectors into North Korea and also ensures denuclearization."
The United States, in its negotiations with Iran for that nuclear deal, was "more desperate for a deal than the Iranians were" and there was no reason to approach it that way, Zeldin added.
North Korea, however, has "crunched the math" and Kim has determined a different path is needed for his country and for the survival of his regime.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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