Pompeo says U.S. will demand 'irreversible' steps toward shutting down North Korea's nuclear weapons program

U.S. Secretary of State MikePompeo said in an interview aired on Sunday that he told NorthKorean leader Kim Jong-unthat he will have to agree to take"irreversible" steps toward shutting his nuclear weapons programin any deal with U.S. President Donald Trump.

"We use the word 'irreversible' with great intention,"Pompeo told ABC News. "We are going to require those steps thatdemonstrate that denuclearization is going to be achieved."

Pompeo's comments were the most extensive yet regarding hisEaster weekend talks in Pyongyang with Kim in preparation for asummit as early as next month between the North Korean leader and Trump.

Pompeo, the former CIA director who was sworn in as the topU.S. diplomat on Thursday, said his meeting with Kim was "aproductive one" and that he left Pyongyang convinced there is "areal opportunity" for the North Korean leader and Trump tostrike a deal.

Kim expressed his readiness to discuss Trump's demand "andto lay out a map that will help us achieve that objective,"Pompeo said.

His assessment likely will add to hopes for a breakthroughthat brings peace to the divided Korean peninsula following a historic summit last week between Kim and South Korean PresidentMoon Jae-in at which the pair vowed "complete denuclearization."

Seeking concrete measures

While Pyongyang says it will close its nuclear test sitenext month, Kim and Moon did not outline concrete measures to betaken to achieve that goal of denuclearization.

Pompeo made clear that Trump will be seeking Kim'scommitment to such steps, and added that the United States willalso take matching actions, without providing details.

Pompeo however cautioned that "there remains a great deal ofwork to do." And he noted that previous North Korean promises"proved false or unworthy or they were incapable of keepingthem."

"Both countries will have to do more than words," saidPompeo. He repeated that Trump will maintain a "pressure campaign" of harsh sanctions on impoverished North Korea until Kim shutters his nuclear weapons program.

He said that at Trump's direction, he spoke with Kimabout the release of three U.S. citizens detained by NorthKorea. He did not elaborate on the outcome of that discussion.

Concern over Iran

Pompeowas interviewed remotelyfrom the Middle East,where he is on a brief diplomatic tour. He met with Saudi King Salman in Riyadh on Sunday and stressedthe need for unity among Gulf allies as Washington aims tomuster support for new sanctions against Iran.

After meeting Israeli PrimeMinister BenjaminNetanyahulater in the day, he saidthe United States is deeply concerned by Iran's "destabilizing and malign activities."

"We remain deeply concerned about Iran's dangerousescalation of threats towards Israel and the region," he said, speaking alongsidethe Israeli leader.

Pompeo'swhilrwind trip began with a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels on Friday, hours after hewas confirmed as Trump's topdiplomat. He has not even visited his own office yet, he toldNetanyahu.