IT’S A GO: NORTH KOREA SUMMIT BACK ON
Kim summit due after ‘notable’ visit
The Singapore summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un is back on for June 12, following a theatrical note exchange at the White House Friday.
“Now we’re going to deal,” Trump announced after a 90-minute visit by an envoy who delivered the note from the North Korean leader.
The change of heart comes a week after Trump sent his own letter canceling the summit after some hot rhetoric from the rogue regime. But after an Oval Office sitdown with Kim Yong-chol Friday, the president said both sides are “totally over” last week’s drama.
“I think we are going to have a relationship and it will start on June 12,” Trump said.
He lowered expectations for the historic session by calling it “a getting-to-know-you meeting — plus” and the beginning of a long process. The commander in chief pledged to keep sanctions on the North until it ends its nuclear program and threatened a flurry of new penalties if talks break down.
“We have hundreds that are ready to go,” Trump warned. “But why would I do that when we’re talking so nicely?”
The turnaround unfolded with the air of a reality TV episode.
Former North Korean military spymaster Kim Yong-chol arrived at the White House in a black SUV at 1:11 p.m. and was greeted by Trump’s chief of staff, John Kelly.
Though the high-ranking envoy is accused of the 2014 Sony Pictures hack and was sanctioned by the US, he was feted at the White House.
He strolled the colonnade with Kelly and entered the Oval Office to hand-deliver a note from his boss, the North Korean leader. TV crews were camped outside and zoomed in on the windows to catch a glimpse.
At 2:35 p.m., Trump and Pompeo escorted their guest outside for lingering goodbyes, arm pats and extended conversation. The North Korean emissary was smiling.
Trump and Pompeo posed for rounds of photos with the North Korean delegation before walking their visitor back to his black Chevrolet Suburban at 2:40 p.m.
“This was a letter presentation that ended up being a two-hour conversation,” Trump said.
Notably missing was National Security Adviser John Bolton, who infuriated the North Koreans by saying he favors the “Libya model” to dispose of nukes.
Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy was killed by revolutionary forces years after surrendering his nuclear weapons.
As for the letter, Trump initially said the note from the North Korean leader he once dubbed a “sick puppy” was “very nice” and joked about auctioning off a chance to see it.
“How much? How much?” he toyed with the gathered press.
Before heading off to Camp David for the weekend with daughter Ivanka and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump, the president said he hadn’t actually read the letter yet.
“I may be in for a big surprise, folks,” Trump said.