Perry: Energy department will play ‘integral role’ in any US, NKorea agreement

Energy Secretary Rick Perry said in a new interview that his agency will “play an integral” part in any agreement reached between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“The Department of Energy will play an integral role. They’re the lead agency,” Perry told CNN. “If we’re successful, as we hope the president is in his negotiations to allow for the denuclearization of the peninsula, the Department of Energy will play a significant, if not lead, role.” 

{mosads}The Energy Department is in charge of overseeing the United States’ nuclear weapons stockpile and also works to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Perry’s remarks come as Trump prepares to meet with Kim in Singapore for a historic summit that will mark the first meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.

The two leaders are slated to discuss North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

Trump while meeting Monday with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said he thinks the upcoming meeting with Kim will “work out very nicely.” 

“As you know, we’ve got a very interesting meeting tomorrow,” Trump told Lee.

“We’ve got a very interesting meeting, in particular, tomorrow, and I just think it’s going to work out very nicely,” Trump added.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday told reporters in Singapore that the U.S. will only agree to the “complete and verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” But Pompeo added he believes the talks will set a “framework” for future negotiations.

“President Trump believes that Kim Jong Un has an unprecedented opportunity to change the trajectory of our relationship and bring peace and prosperity to his country,” Pompeo said.

“We are hopeful this summit will have set the conditions for future productive talks,” he said.