Trump Calls Off Pompeo’s North Korea Trip Over Lack of ‘Sufficient Progress’ on Denuclearization
CANCELLED
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty
President Trump announced on Twitter Friday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to North Korea next week has been postponed. “I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” he wrote. “Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place).” Trump added that Pompeo would be returning to North Korea “most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved,” and gave his “warmest regards and respect” to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Pompeo was supposed to travel to Pyongyang with his special envoy Stephen Biegun in a push to make North Korea comply with denuclearization. Reports have indicated that while North Korea told Trump it would denuclearize, the country has actually assembled at least one missile.