Trump to North: Let’s ‘make a deal’

In Seoul, president reaches out to Kim

SEOUL, Republic Of Korea — In a striking shift of tone, President Donald Trump abandoned his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea on Tuesday, signalling a willingness to negotiate as he urged Pyongyang to “come to the table” and “make a deal.”

Trump, in his first day on the Korean Peninsula, again pushed Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program, but sounded an optimistic note, saying confidently, if vaguely, “ultimately, it’ll all work out.” And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy.

“It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world,” Trump said during a news conference alongside South Korean president Moon Jae-in. “I do see certain movement.”

Trump said he’s seen “a lot of progress” in dealing with North Korea, though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.

Trump also underscored the United States’ military options, noting that three aircraft carrier groups and a nuclear submarine had been deployed to the region.

But, he said “we hope to God we never have to use” the arsenal.

And at an evening banquet, Trump teased an “exciting day tomorrow, for many reasons that people will find out.” He did not elaborate.

During his first day in South Korea, Trump at least temporarily lowered the temperature on his usually incendiary language about North Korea. There were no threats of unleashing “fire and fury” on the country.

But he did decree that the dictator is “threatening millions and millions of lives, so needlessly,” and he highlighted a central mission of his first lengthy Asia trip: to enlist many nations in the region, including China and Russia, to cut off Pyongyang’s economic lifeblood and pressure it into giving up its nuclear program.