Seoul: N. Korean leader removes major nuclear sticking point

By: The Associated Press

Thursday, April 19, 2018 8:45 AM

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korean President Moon Jae-in says North Korea hasn't asked for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula as a precondition for abandoning his nuclear weapons. If true, this would remove a major sticking point to a nuclear disarmament deal.

Moon said Thursday, however, that North Korea still wants the United States to end its "hostile" policy toward the North and offer security guarantees. It has typically linked U.S. "hostility" to the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

North Korea has always said it needed to develop nuclear weapons because of the U.S. "hostility" embodied by the American troops in South Korea, 50,000 others stationed in Japan and the "nuclear umbrella" security guarantee that Washington offers allies Seoul and Tokyo.

Seoul: N. Korean leader removes major nuclear sticking point

In this Wednesday, April 11, 2018, photo, South Korean army soldiers stand guard at the border villages of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, April 17, has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War at their summit next week amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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People watch a TV screen showing file footage of U.S. President Donald Trump, right, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War at their summit next week amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. The signs read: " Summit meeting between South and North Korea, the United States and North Korea ." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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A South Korean army soldier passes by a TV screen showing file footage of CIA Director Mike Pompeo, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, a highly unusual, secret visit undertaken as the enemy nations prepare for a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The signs read: " Mike Pompeo meets with Kim Jong Un." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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A man passes by a TV screen showing file footage of CIA Director Mike Pompeo, center right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, a highly unusual, secret visit undertaken as the enemy nations prepare for a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The signs read: " Mike Pompeo meets with Kim Jong Un." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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A visitor uses binoculars to see the North Korea side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. One problem: There can be no real talks without the involvement of the other countries that fought the 1950-53 war, and especially the United States. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Visitors use binoculars to see the North Korea side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. One problem: There can be no real talks without the involvement of the other countries that fought the 1950-53 war, and especially the United States. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A visitor looks at the photos of two Koreas history at exhibition hall of the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. One problem: There can be no real talks without the involvement of the other countries that fought the 1950-53 war, and especially the United States. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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Students watch the North side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. One problem: There can be no real talks without the involvement of the other countries that fought the 1950-53 war, and especially the United States. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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A visitor looks at a map of North Korean towns at the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. U.S. President Donald Trump has given his "blessing" for North and South Korea to discuss the end of the Korean War amid a diplomatic push to end the North Korean nuclear standoff. One problem: There can be no real talks without the involvement of the other countries that fought the 1950-53 war, and especially the United States. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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