TOP NEWS U.S. Identifies North Korea Missile Test Site It Says Kim Committed to Destroy New York Times Key nuclear expert departs White House as North Korea negotiations loom Washington Post As Kim Ends Beijing Visit, China and North Korea Craft New Messages New York Times Iran lists demands for improving relations with US Washington Post Germany wants to know if the US will let it carry nuclear weapons on its new fighter jets Business Insider EAST ASIA Mike Pompeo reportedly joked with Kim Jong-un about killing him during meeting prior to Singapore summit The Independent6/20/18 Secretary of state has held a number of meetings with North Korean officials this year U.S. Identifies North Korea Missile Test Site It Says Kim Committed to Destroy New York Times6/20/18 The missile engine test site that President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had committed to destroy is a major facility in the western part of the country that has been used for testing engines for long-range missiles, according to a U.S. official. Trump says North Korea has returned remains of 200 U.S. war dead Reuters6/20/18 President Donald Trump said North Korea had returned on Wednesday the remains of 200 U.S. troops missing from the Korean War, although there was no official confirmation of the move from military authorities. No sign of North Korea dismantling nuclear weapons programme, Mattis admits The Guardian6/20/18 No one knows when meeting about it will be held either, contrary to Trump’s promise after Singapore summit Key nuclear expert departs White House as North Korea negotiations loom Washington Post6/20/18 A key U.S. official involved in denuclearization talks with North Korea is leaving the White House just as the Trump administration prepares to engage in high-stakes negotiations with the isolated regime, the official confirmed to The Washington Post. Bolton calls on N. Korea to make first move on denuclearization Yonhap News6/20/18 North Korea should make the first move to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before expecting any easing of sanctions from the United States, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said Wednesday. U.S. nuclear expert departs White House in ‘regular rotation’: officials Reuters6/20/18 The Trump administration’s top nuclear expert involved in talks on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs is leaving the White House as part of a regular rotation, three senior administration officials said on Wednesday. AP-NORC Poll: Majority approve of Trump’s North Korea effort Washington Post6/21/18 A majority of Americans now approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of U.S. relations with North Korea, a change that comes after his historic summit with that country’s leader, Kim Jong Un. But most don’t believe Kim is serious about addressing the international concerns about his country’s nuclear weapons program. Japan Is Canceling Evacuation Drills Meant to Prepare Civilians for North Korean Missiles Time6/21/18 Japan plans to suspend the civilian evacuation drills it started last year while North Korea was repeatedly test-firing missiles near and over Japanese islands, officials said Thursday, citing diplomatic overtures from Pyongyang. As Kim Ends Beijing Visit, China and North Korea Craft New Messages New York Times6/20/18 Propaganda departments in China and North Korea were in full swing on Wednesday as Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, concluded a two-day tour of China that painted the once-reclusive autocrat as a forward-looking leader. Kim Jong Un ends visit to China with a message for the US CNN6/20/18 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended a celebratory visit to China’s President Xi Jinping on Wednesday with tea, praise, handshakes — and a message for the US. MIDDLE EAST China says will maintain normal relations with Iran Reuters6/20/18 China will maintain normal relations with Iran, the Commerce Ministry in Beijing said on Thursday. Iran lists demands for improving relations with US Washington Post6/21/18 Iran has announced a list of 15 demands for improving relations with the United States, including a U.S. return to the 2015 nuclear accord, in response to a similar list of demands made by Washington last month. RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE Germany wants to know if the US will let it carry nuclear weapons on its new fighter jets Business Insider6/20/18 Germany is pressing Washington to clarify whether it would let the Eurofighter Typhoon carry nuclear bombs as part of shared Western defenses, an issue that could help decide whether Berlin orders more of the jets, sources familiar with the matter said. OPINION AND ANALYSIS The Pentagon has now officially canceled military exercises with South Korea. Here’s what comes next. Washington PostSeo-Hyun Park and Il Hyun Cho 6/21/18 Military exercises serve multiple functions, and aren’t just a bargaining chip. There are multiple audiences carefully observing — and calculating — what Trump’s statement might mean. Yes, Kim Jong Un met President Trump. But China is still North Korea’s most important ally. Washington PostAmanda Erickson 6/21/18 The visit came just days after Kim met with President Trump in Singapore, and it highlights the importance of the China-North Korea relationship.