Trump Asks Pompeo To Cancel North Korea Visit Due To Insufficient Progress On Denuclearization
President Trump on Friday tweeted that he has asked Mike Pompeo to cancel his North Korea visit.
President Trump on Friday tweeted he has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his next week's visit to North Korea.
"I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump wrote. "Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place)."
Trump stated in another tweet: "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved. In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!"
His tweets come after the International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Monday that North Korea is still actively engaged in nuclear activities. It called the finding "deeply regrettable" and a "cause for great concern," reports ABC News. The UN's nuclear watchdog was prohibited from investigating North Korea in person and assessments of the nation's nuclear-related pursuits were made through satellite imagery and other sources. Information gathered suggests the plant used to produce the plutonium needed for weapons testing is still in operation, notes Al Jazeera. It also indicates that the building history and features at a site near the capital, Pyongyang "are not inconsistent with a centrifuge enrichment facility." The report was released on the same day President Trump told Reuters, "I stopped (North Korea's) nuclear testing. I stopped (North Korea's) missile testing." He also said he anticipates another meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. Their last face-to-face interaction took place during the June summit in Singapore. At that time, Kim expressed a willingness to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
President Trump on Friday tweeted he has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his next week's visit to North Korea.
"I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump wrote. "Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place)."
Trump stated in another tweet: "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved. In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!"
His tweets come after the International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Monday that North Korea is still actively engaged in nuclear activities. It called the finding "deeply regrettable" and a "cause for great concern," reports ABC News. The UN's nuclear watchdog was prohibited from investigating North Korea in person and assessments of the nation's nuclear-related pursuits were made through satellite imagery and other sources. Information gathered suggests the plant used to produce the plutonium needed for weapons testing is still in operation, notes Al Jazeera. It also indicates that the building history and features at a site near the capital, Pyongyang "are not inconsistent with a centrifuge enrichment facility." The report was released on the same day President Trump told Reuters, "I stopped (North Korea's) nuclear testing. I stopped (North Korea's) missile testing." He also said he anticipates another meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. Their last face-to-face interaction took place during the June summit in Singapore. At that time, Kim expressed a willingness to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.