U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis says.... there has been progress in denuclearization talks with North Korea.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week aboard a flight to Vietnam,... the U.S. defense chief said..... despite its difficulty,... the talks to dismantle the North's nuclear program have made progress,... and such diplomatic efforts will continue.
Mattis also said..... troop training and military cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea is ongoing,....although joint military exercises between the two countries have partly suspended.
Meanwhile, the defense secretary brushed aside speculation of him being replaced,... saying that he had never talked about leaving his position with U.S. President Donald Trump.