Pompeo says US to continue negotiation after DPRK's tactical weapon test-firing

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday the United States will continue to work to negotiate with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to achieve the Korean Peninsula denuclearization.

Pompeo's remarks came after Pyongyang test-fired a new tactical guided weapon earlier this week.

"I'm convinced we still have a real opportunity to achieve that outcome (the denuclearization), and our diplomatic team will continue to remain in the lead," said the top US diplomat at a joint press conference in the State Department with visiting senior Japanese officials.

Pompeo swept aside Pyongyang's demand about replacing him by someone "more careful and mature" to deal with the talks.

"Nothing's changed. We're continuing to work to negotiate. I'm still in charge of the team," he said.

The DPRK's state media Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday that Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK, supervised the test-firing of a new tactical guided weapon on Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesperson Charles Summers Jr confirmed on Thursday that the tactical-level weapons test posed no threat to the United States and regional allies.