5/23/2018

MIKE POMPEO/NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday [5-23-18] that the denuclearization of North Korea is the top U.S. national security priority and that economic prosperity was a clear incentive for Pyongyang to give up its weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was candid about his desire for growth, Mr. Pompeo told the committee, and expected to receive various forms of economic help in return for meeting the U.S. objective, which Mr. Pompeo described as complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization…North Korea’s economy is ailing under the pressure of U.S. sanctions and heavily dependent on limited support from dwindling trade with China, which appeared to scale back its relationship with Pyongyang earlier this year. The future of the negotiations between President Donald Trump and the North Korean leader remained in doubt on Wednesday. Pyongyang last week threatened to shelve the June 12 summit unless the U.S. dropped its denuclearization demands and offered concessions including halting planned military exercises with South Korea, which Mr. Kim views as an act of hostility.”

– Jessica Donati, “Pompeo: Denuclearization of North Korea Is Top Security Priority,” The Wall Street Journal, May 23, 2018 12:40 pm