Home GRASP/Korea CIA chief defends N Korea talks, says Pyongyang bends to pressure

CIA chief defends N Korea talks, says Pyongyang bends to pressure

255
0
SHARE

Donald Trump deployed his spy chief Sunday to sell his snap decision to engage North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in momentous nuclear talks that the president himself predicted would be a « tremendous success » but others warn carry big risks. CIA director Mike Pompeo portrayed North Korea as buckling under
Donald Trump deployed his spy chief Sunday to sell his snap decision to engage North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in momentous nuclear talks that the president himself predicted would be a « tremendous success » but others warn carry big risks.
CIA director Mike Pompeo portrayed North Korea as buckling under the pressure of U. S.-led international sanctions, and insisted there would be no let-up for the duration of the negotiations.
« Never before have we had the North Koreans in a position where their economy was at such risk, where their leadership was under such pressure, » he said on Fox News Sunday.
« Make no mistake: while these negotiations are going on, there will be no concessions made, » he said.
The Sunday talk show appearances by Pompeo and others served to answer critics who warn that the talks, entered into by an impulsive, inexperienced president, carry high risks.
If they fail, the two nuclear-armed states could then be left with few options short of military confrontation, experts on the years-long impasse with North Korea say.
Pompeo suggested that Trump understood the dangers. « The president isn’t doing this for theater, he is going there to solve a problem. »
Trump used a Saturday night campaign rally in Pennsylvania steel country to defend his decision to sit down with Kim after months of insult-filled brinkmanship, replete with nuclear threats.
He said the United States had « shown great strength » when tensions were high but the regime’s leaders « want to make peace. »
« I think it’s time, » Trump told supporters.
Before boarding his Marine One helicopter for the rally, he told reporters: « I think North Korea is going to go very well, I think we will have tremendous success… We have a lot of support. »
« The promise is they wouldn’t be shooting off missiles in the meantime, and they’re looking to de-nuke.

Continue reading...