Trump reverses new sanctions on North Korea United States
US President Donald Trump has sparked confusion by announcing the cancellation of sanctions aimed at North Korea, in an apparent effort to salvage his administration’s nuclear negotiations.
‘‘It was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!" Trump tweeted yesterday.
Trump administration officials could not immediately explain which sanctions Trump was referring to. However, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Friday against two Chinese shipping companies for their alleged role in evading United Nations sanctions against North Korea.
Asked to explain Trump’s tweet, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: ‘‘President Trump likes Chairman Kim (Jong Un) and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary.’’
Trump has fixated on his negotiations with the rogue state after leaving his inconclusive summit with Kim in Hanoi last month, telling senators, visitors and others that he can still make a deal with North Korea, and that he believes Kim will eventually agree to his demands.
Officials said Trump was determined to prevent his aides undercutting what he viewed as his biggest foreign policy accomplishments – reducing tensions with North Korea and creating the opportunity for a historic deal. Critics said Trump’s move undercut his administration’s campaign of maximum pressure against North Korea.