5/3/2018

MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR/SOUTH KOREA/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani said the administration has reached an agreement with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un to release three detained U.S. citizens, including a 62-year-old Virginian who has been held for two years…The White House declined to provide any additional details. Mr. Trump signaled on Twitter late Wednesday [5-2-18] that there would be news soon. He said the previous administration hadn’t been able to free the ‘three hostages,’ adding: ‘Stay tuned!’ Mr. Kim gave assurances to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the release of the detainees could be paired with a summit with Mr. Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 20. The release of detained U.S. citizens would add to a rapid diplomatic advance that began before the Winter Olympics in South Korea with a thaw between Seoul and Pyongyang. After the Games and assurances from Mr. Kim that he was open to talks on ‘denuclearization,’ Mr. Trump agreed in March to the North Korean leader’s proposal for a summit.”

-Michael C. Bender and Jessica Donati, “North Korea to Release 3 U.S. Prisoners, Giuliani Says,” The Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2018 11:31 am