4/11/2019

NORTH KOREA/SUMMIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump said Thursday [4-11-19] that he will discuss potential ‘new encounters’ with Kim Jong Un, but he did not offer odds on the prospects of a third summit with the North Korean leader. ‘A third summit could happen, and it’s step-by-step – it’s not a fast process,’ Trump told reporters before a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who seeks to jump-start negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea. Trump did forecast ‘tremendous things’ with North Korea, but only over time. While Moon has suggested easing some economic sanctions on North Korea in the short term, Trump said he wants them to remain in place for the time being. Trump added that ‘I have the option of significantly increasing them,’ but said he doesn’t to do that that now ‘because of my relationship with Kim Jong Un.’ Trump, who extended his ‘warmest wishes’ to Kim as well as the people of North and South Korea, said he and Moon would discuss possible humanitarian and food aid to Kim, as well as the possibility of additional meetings. Trump did not provide details…After cutting short a Feb. 28 meeting in Hanoi, Trump and aides said North Korea wanted sweeping sanctions relief in exchange for dismantling one of its main nuclear facilities, without relinquishing its current weapons stockpile. The U.S. wants complete denuclearization before agreeing to sanctions removal.”

David Jackson and Deirdre Shesgreen, “President Trump predicts ‘tremendous things’ with North Korea, but over time,” USA Today, April 11, 2019 6:45 pm