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Mike Pompeo sworn in as Donald Trump's second US Secretary of State

Mike Pompeo, the former CIA chief, flew to North Korea for secret talks with the country's leader over Easter: Twitter/White House
Mike Pompeo, the former CIA chief, flew to North Korea for secret talks with the country's leader over Easter: Twitter/White House

The US Senate has confirmed former CIA director Mike Pompeo as the next Secretary of State.

Republican senators, who control the upper chamber, voted unanimously to confirm Mr Pompeo's appointment on Thursday.

The Senate voted 57-42 to approve him as America's top diplomat after his predecessor Rex Tillerson was sacked last month by President Donald Trump via Twitter amid a personality clash.

Following the announcement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders released pictures of Mr Pompeo's secret meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jon Un.

Posting the images on Twitter, she wrote: “Great to have Secretary Pompeo confirmed. He will do an excellent job helping @POTUS [President Donald Trump] lead our efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.”

Mr Pompeo flew to North Korea for talks with the country’s leader, a visit which raised hopes of a breakthrough in the tense stand-off between America and the rogue state over its nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Pompeo has been arranging a possible summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un
Mr Pompeo has been arranging a possible summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un

President Trump confirmed the meeting, which occurred over Easter, last week on Twitter after having disclosed earlier that he had initiated “direct talks” with the North Korean regime.

Mr Pompeo has been arranging a possible summit between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un, a meeting that could happen in the coming months.

The approval of Mr Pompeo as secretary of state comes in time for the ex-CIA boss to lead a US delegation to Nato foreign minister talks in Brussels this weekend.

Mr Trump applauded his new secretary of state, saying he is someone who will “always put the interests of America first".

He added: "Having a patriot of Mike's immense talent, energy, and intellect leading the Department of State will be an incredible asset for our country at this critical time in history.”