Trump cancels Pompeo visit to North Korea
Trump cites lack of progress on denuclearization
President Donald Trump on Friday canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s planned North Korea trip, citing a lack of progress on denuclearization.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Friday nixed a planned trip to North Korea by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, suggesting Kim Jong Un’s regime had not made good on promises to relinquish its nuclear weapons arsenal.
Trump announced the cancellation in a tweet Friday, just one day after Pompeo said he would be traveling to North Korea next week to press that country on its pledge to denuclearize. Pompeo announced the trip in a carefully orchestrated appearance on Thursday with Stephen Biegun, who was just named as the Trump administration’s special representative for North Korea.
But on Friday, Trump said he asked Pompeo not to go to North Korea because “because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The president said Pompeo would go at a later date, after the U.S. and China resolve an escalating trade war that has complicated America’s diplomatic efforts in North Korea.
“Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved,” Trump tweeted. “In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!”
On Monday, a United Nations watchdog organization reported there were no signs that Kim Jong Un’s government has stopped its nuclear weapons activities.