A former North Korean diplomat has urged US president Donald Trump to insist that Pyongyang dismantle all nuclear weapons and facilities before easing sanctions or risk ending up recognising North Korea as a nuclear power, which means it could negotiate to keep part of its arsenal.

Thae Yong-ho, North Korea’s former deputy ambassador to the UK, expects Mr Trump to lift partial sanctions against North Korea at the upcoming summit by allowing South Korea to reopen its industrial complex in Kaesong and to resume the Mount Kumgang tour, suspended in 2008. 

He said the partial sanctions relief is likely to come in return for North Korea’s promise to dismantle its main Yongbyon nuclear complex with international inspections. But the inter-Korean economic exchanges, if allowed, would lead to further easing of sanctions by North Korea’s allies, China and Russia, he predicted.