North Korea threatens to resume nuclear development if Trump doesn't drop sanctions

North Korea on Friday threatened to resume development of nuclear weapons if the United States does not lift economic sanctions.

"The U.S. thinks that its oft-repeated 'sanctions and pressure' leads to 'denuclearization,'" said a statement from Pyongyang. "We cannot help laughing at such a foolish idea." The statement argued lifting sanctions would be an appropriate reciprocation of North Korea's "proactive and good-will measures" since opening denuclearization talks with the U.S. and South Korea.

Also Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated sanctions will continue. "A lot of work remains," he said, "but I'm confident that we will keep the economic pressure in place until such time as [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un] fulfills the commitment he made to President Trump back in June in Singapore."

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