President Trump on Tuesday commended North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his “honorable” behavior during talks with the U.S. about denuclearization.
“He really has been very open and, I think, very honorable from everything we’re seeing,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to the North Korean leader. “Now, a lot of promises have been made by North Korea over the years, but they have never been in this position.”
White House officials are currently working to set up direct talks between Trump and Kim before the end of June, following the North Korean leader’s preliminary meeting earlier this month with CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
“We have been told directly that they would like to have the meeting as soon as possible. We think that’s a great thing for the world,” Trump said.
North Korean officials vowed last week to halt all ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests ahead of the meeting with Trump. Kim has previously said he is willing to commit to denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, though foreign policy experts remain skeptical of the regime’s motivations and promises.
The White House on Monday insisted Trump is not being “naive” in his dealings with North Korea and intends to maintain maximum pressure on the country until Kim takes “concrete” steps to prove he is willing to abandon his nuclear weapons program.
