Anchor: The apparent gap between the U.S. and North Korea on details of the North's denuclearization and incentives is expected to be the biggest stumbling block in their future negotiations. The difference between the two sides was made apparent at the weekend following U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's latest visit to Pyongyang for nuclear talks. 
Choi You Sun has this report.

Report: With the clock ticking towards the U.S. mid-term elections in November, Washington seems determined to accelerate North Korea's denuclearization process, saying sanctions on the North will remain until its denuclearization is fully verified.

But Pyongyang is on a different page about taking steps to denuclearize first. 

After U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's two-day visit to Pyongyang, the North's Foreign Ministry on Saturday lashed out at the U.S. for seeking its unilateral denuclearization.

The ministry also expressed discontent that there were no detailed discussions on the previously-agreed declaration to formally end the Korean War.

The North's Foreign Ministry then reiterated its call for a "phased" and "synchronous" approach towards denuclearization, based on trust.

Experts in South Korea say the North will need to make both political and economic achievements in time for the 70th anniversary of the North’s foundation in September.

[Sound bite: Kim Yong-hyun, Dongguk University Professor of N. Korean Studies (Korean)]

"(North Korea) seems to be thinking that instead of demanding a denuclearization timeline, the U.S. should make concessions, including a gradual sanctions relief, in resolving the (nuclear) issue."

Pyongyang is thought to be delaying the repatriation of the remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War in response to Washington's continuation of sanctions on the regime.

Despite the stark disparity between the U.S. and North Korea, the latest talks in Pyongyang are considered to have set the framework for the two sides' future working-level negotiations.
Choi You Sun, KBS World Radio News.