A third summit with North Korea may be in the offing.
President Trump tweeted Saturday that he is open to the idea of meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, despite their last summit ending early and without a hoped-for resolution.
“I agree with Kim Jong Un of North Korea that our personal relationship remains very good, perhaps the term excellent would be even more accurate, and that a third Summit would be good in that we fully understand where we each stand,” he tweeted.
I agree with Kim Jong Un of North Korea that our personal relationship remains very good, perhaps the term excellent would be even more accurate, and that a third Summit would be good in that we fully understand where we each stand. North Korea has tremendous potential for…….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2019
Trump suggested that if North Korea is prepared to give up its nuclear weapons, the U.S. would lift its sanctions and the nation could become an economic success.
….extraordinary growth, economic success and riches under the leadership of Chairman Kim. I look forward to the day, which could be soon, when Nuclear Weapons and Sanctions can be removed, and then watching North Korea become one of the most successful nations of the World!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2019
Talks broke down during their second bilateral summit in Vietnam in February as Kim offered to give up some nuclear capability in return for the lifting of all sanctions, and the U.S. cut short the talks.
“They were willing to denuke a large portion of the areas that we wanted,” the president said at the time. “But we couldn’t give up all of the sanctions for that.”
The two leaders discussed dismantling of the Yongbyon complex, the country’s central nuclear facility, but the U.S. was unwilling to lift all sanctions first.
“Sometimes you have to walk. And this was just one of those times,” Trump said.
