Home GRASP GRASP/Korea Trump cautious on N Korea nuclear talks

Trump cautious on N Korea nuclear talks

212
0
SHARE

The US president says he sees possible progress on the thorny issue, but warns of a “false hope”.
Donald Trump has reacted cautiously to news that North Korea is willing to talk about giving up its nuclear weapons if it did not feel threatened.
The US president said “the statements coming out of South Korea and North Korea have been very positive”, but also said it might be a “false hope”.
South Korea earlier said the subject was raised when its officials met the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un, on Monday.
Seoul said Mr Kim was also open to US talks, and would pause weapons testing.
In previous programmes to halt its nuclear ambitions, the North has failed to keep its promises.
The leaders of North and South Korea have also agreed to meet at a summit next month, Seoul’s envoy says.
It will be the first such meeting for more than a decade and the first since Kim Jong-un took power in North Korea.
Throughout February’s Winter Olympics in South Korea, the two countries struck a friendly tone, sending athletes to compete in a joint team and holding talks.
Speaking to reporters at Washington’s Oval Office, he said: “We have come certainly a long way, at least rhetorically, with North Korea.
“The statements coming out of South Korea and North Korea have been very positive. That would be a great thing for the world.”
The US leader also praised Pyongyang for its decision to take part in the Pyeongchang Olympics.
But he earlier posted a cautious tweet, warning about a “false hope”.
Meanwhile, US Vice-President Mike Pence said: “Whichever direction talks with North Korea go, we will be firm in our resolve.
“The United States and our allies remain committed to applying maximum pressure on the Kim regime to end their nuclear program.
“All options are on the table and our posture toward the regime will not change until we see credible, verifiable, and concrete steps toward denuclearisation.

Continue reading...