By Associated Press - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the Trump administration and North Korea (all times local):

8:53 a.m.

President Donald Trump is trumpeting “many good conversations” with North Korea over denuclearization.

Trump tweets Tuesday that “All of Asia is thrilled” that North Korea has halted missile testing and only the “Opposition Party” Democrats, including the “Fake News” is complaining.

Trump also claims: “If not for me, we would now be at War with North Korea!”

Trump’s June nuclear summit with Kim yielded no specifics on how North Korea would achieve denuclearization. And experts say there is no proof North Korea’s halt of nuclear and missile tests means the North will take concrete steps to give up such weapons. They also say the U.S. has an unrealistic approach to North Korea’s denuclearization.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to return to North Korea on Thursday to continue the talks.

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12:15 a.m.

Experts are warning that the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles in just a year is both unrealistic and risky.

The rapid timeline proposed by national security adviser John Bolton contrasts with more measured, methodical strategies that most North Korea experts insist are needed to produce a lasting denuclearization agreement.

They say any solid deal will require North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be completely transparent about his program - at a time when intelligence reports suggest he will try to deceive the United States about the extent of his covert weapons or facilities.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to arrive Friday in Pyongyang for his third visit in three months.

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