4/11/2019

NORTH KOREA/NUCLEAR/SOUTH KOREA/SUMMIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/VIETNAM: “President Trump said on Thursday [4-11-19] that he would be open to a third summit meeting with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, suggesting he is keen to revive a high-stakes engagement that was abruptly suspended six weeks ago after the two leaders failed to strike a nuclear disarmament deal in Vietnam. Speaking before an Oval Office meeting with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, Mr. Trump also opened the door to a series of smaller deals with North Korea — a piecemeal approach that could allow the two leaders to resurrect negotiations that had foundered on their inability to seal a blockbuster agreement…Mr. Trump drew the line at easing sanctions on North Korea for anything short of a commitment to give up its entire nuclear arsenal. But he also said he had decided not to impose additional sanctions on Pyongyang — a testament, he said, to his warm relationship with Mr. Kim. The president’s conciliatory tone was a modest victory for Mr. Moon, who has made rapprochement with North Korea the centerpiece of his administration and who is eager to entice Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim back to the table. He heaped praise on the president for not closing the door to future meetings.”

Mark Landler, “Trump Says He’s Open to Third North Korea Meeting, and ‘Smaller Deals’ Are Possible,” The New York Times online, April 11, 2019