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US President Donald Trump meets with UK Prime Minister Theresa May at Chequers, the prime minister’s country house in Aylesbury, England, on July 13. Trump had criticized May’s handling of Brexit the day before in an interview with The Sun. (Reuters)
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US President addresses need to adjust tempo of NK negotiations during UK summit
US President Donald Trump said that North Korea’s denuclearization could be a long process, leaving open the possibility that the negotiations will become protracted. Trump also repeated that he has confidence in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During a joint press conference following his summit with UK Prime Minister Theresa May in London on May 13, Trump said, “[Denuclearization is] a process. It’s probably a longer process than anybody would like, but I’m used to long processes too.” Trump’s remarks appeared to reflect his awareness of critics in the US claiming the rate of progress in negotiations with North Korea is “too slow.” They could also be read as indirectly acknowledging that the talks with Pyongyang are proving to be difficult. Trump previously stressed the need to adjust the tempo late last month. “When people rush [denuclearization] [. . .] it's like rushing the turkey out of the stove. It's not going to be as good,” he said at the time. Referring to a letter from Kim that he had shared in a Twitter message the day before, Trump said, “You saw the letter yesterday. And we’re doing very well.” “We haven’t taken off the sanctions [against North Korea]. The sanctions are biting,” he continued. In the past, Trump has maintained that the US cannot make concessions to Pyongyang because it has not lifted its sanctions against North Korea. At the same time, Trump also offered “praise” for Kim. In an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail published on July 14, Trump was asked whether he “liked” Kim when they met for a summit on June 12. Kim Jong-un is “funny and tough, good negotiator “He’s very smart, great personality, he’s funny and tough, good negotiator,” he responded. When the interview noted that Kim was also a “ruthless dictator,” Trump replied, “Sure he is, he’s ruthless, but so are others.” “Plenty of the people that I deal with are pretty ruthless people,” he continued. Trump was also asked whether it was the “Trump doctrine” to “try and do deals with people that have been perceived as the enemy.” “I’d like to see peace,” he replied. “We’re getting rid of wars. We’re actually getting out of wars,” he added of his administration. Trump also commented on critics’ claims that Kim deceived him and used the North Korea-US summit as an opportunity to take the global stage. “He was on the global stage before. What have I done? I met with him,” Trump said. Major events organized for September Meanwhile, South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon told Washington correspondents on July 13 that North Korea-US negotiations “appear set to start soon once working groups are set up [between the two sides].” “The North Korea-US discussions probably won’t be easy, but I think things will work out if they’re pursued with tenacity,” he added. When asked about the date announced by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for launching the North Korea-US working groups, a South Korean government official replied, “We still haven’t been notified of a date.” “The US has set up negotiating teams in different areas, and North Korea is set to form its own corresponding teams,” the official said. The same official went on to note that Kim Jong-un “needs to show some kind of economic development results to the North Korean public after abandoning the two-track nuclear and economic development course back in April.” “There are going to be events organized for major dates on the schedule, including the North Korean regime’s foundation anniversary on Sept. 9 and the UN General Assembly meeting in mid-September,” the official predicted. But the official also stressed, “There will need to be discussions in August for something good to happen in September.” “Otherwise, it may just prolong the wrestling match [between North Korea and the US].” By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
