Secretary Pompeo Travels to
Pyongyang, Tokyo, Hanoi, Abu Dhabi, and Brussels
July 5-12

Secretary Pompeo travels to Pyongyang, Tokyo, Hanoi, Abu Dhabi, and Brussels July 5-12.

Secretary Pompeo travels to Pyongyang, July 5-7, to continue consultations and implement the forward progress made by President Trump and Chairman Kim in Singapore.

In Tokyo, July 7-8, the Secretary will meet with Japanese and South Korean leaders to discuss our shared commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK, as well as other bilateral and regional issues.

In Hanoi, July 8-9, Secretary Pompeo will hold meetings with senior Vietnamese officials to discuss our shared commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK and other bilateral and regional issues.

The Secretary will then travel to Abu Dhabi from July 9-10, where he will meet with UAE leaders to discuss ways to further strengthen the U.S.-UAE partnership and advance our common security and economic priorities.

The Secretary will conclude his trip in Brussels, July 10-12, accompanying the President to the NATO Summit, where Allies will discuss increased defense spending and burden sharing, enhanced deterrence and defense, and NATO’s strengthened efforts to fight terrorism.  

The Secretary will also participate in the U.S.-EU Energy Council and co-host a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS with NATO while in Brussels.

According to Arirang News Reporter, Lee Ji-won, dated July 5th, 2018, Mike Pompeo begins his trip to North Korea.

The top diplomat will be in Pyongyang for the first time since the landmark summit in Singapore which Secretary of State Mike Pompeop will focus on ways to ensure complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization with officials in the regime.

The Associated Press reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left for his third visit to Pyongyang early Thurday morning, Washington time.

He's expected to arrive in North Korea's capital on Friday, local time, for his first overnight stay there... before heading to Japan on Saturday.

During his two days in Pyongyang, Pompeo is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and possibly with the vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, Kim Yong-chol, to discuss how to implement the June 12th Joint Statement signed by Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. media have recently expressed skepticism over whether the North is sincere about giving up its nuclear program, so many are saying that Pompeo has to come back with some concrete plans.

A major question is whether the North will, as a first step, have its missile and nuclear materials removed from the country, as some U.S. officials have suggested,... and whether the regime will disable its nuclear plants and reactors at Yongbyon.

Also, President Trump has said the North promised to shut down a missile engine testing site, believed to be the one at Tongchang-ri, so observers will be looking to see if they set a date for that.

From his last visit, Pompeo brought home 3 American detainees, so there's hope that this time he'll bring back the remains of some 200 American soldiers killed in the Korean War, which the North has promised to return.

There's also the question of what the U.S. will offer in exchange in terms of establishing formal diplomatic ties.

As for the process of the North's denuclearization, things may have changed slightly.

The State Department, in a press statement, recently introduced a new phrase -- "final, fully verified denuclearization" and some experts say that in this week's talks Pompeo might put more emphasis on the 'verifiable' part. "From the mantra 'complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization' the U.S. changed to FFVD. The 'I' has disappeared which could be due to North Korea's protest in dealing with its nuclear scientists and knowledge. The emphasis is now on 'verified' and that's something Pompeo had also stressed at the press briefing the day before the summit."

Reuters, however, reported that this change shows that the Trump administration has softened its approach toward North Korea's denuclearization.

It said the U.S., taking advice from South Korea took a step back from its all-or-nothing posture. But we'll know soon whether or not the North will accept this new term in their second round of denuclearization talks.

During the 2018 North Korea–United States summit, Kim Jong-un promised that North Korea would destroy a missile engine test stand soon. The site was not initially named but was later identified to be the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground by US officials.

However,JUNE 26, 2018  38north.org reported that Infrastructure Improvements at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility which clearly shows from the SATELLITE IMAGERY

A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Frank V. Pabian, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu. Says that Commercial satellite imagery from June 21 indicates that improvements to the infrastructure at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center are continuing at a rapid pace. Modifications to the 5 MWe plutonium production reactor’s cooling system appear complete, but a less-than-normal cooling water discharge from the outfall pipe makes a determination of the reactor’s operational status difficult. The status of the Radiochemical Laboratory—used to separate plutonium from spent fuel rods—remains uncertain, although the associated Thermal Plant has likely continued operations, and a small non-industrial building of an unknown purpose has been newly erected near the cooling tower. Construction continues on support facilities throughout other operational areas of Yongbyon, especially at the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR), where the new engineering office building appears externally complete and a small building similar to the one observed at the Radiochemical Laboratory has been erected.

Continued work at the Yongbyon facility should not be seen as having any relationship to North Korea’s pledge to denuclearize. The North’s nuclear cadre can be expected to proceed with business as usual until specific orders are issued from Pyongyang.. See 38north.org for more detail and Satellite images

Fox News: Images show North Korea expanding missile facility

Truth News Compilation/CNN: Satellite images show North Korea upgrading nuclear facility‬

;

On 7 February 2016, North Korea successfully launched a long-range rocket, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, from the station. Critics suggest that the real purpose of the launch was test a ballistic missile. The launch was strongly condemned by the UN Security Council. A statement broadcast on Korean Central Television said that a new Earth observation satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, had successfully been put into orbit less than 10 minutes after lift-off from the Sohae space centre in North Phyongan province.North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration stated the launch was an epochal event in developing the country's science, technology, economy and defence capability by legitimately exercising the right to use space for independent and peaceful purposes. The launch prompted South Korea and the United States to discuss the possibility of placing an advanced missile defence system in South Korea, a move strongly opposed by both China and Russia.

Sohae Satellite Launching Station

Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center and Pongdong-ri) is a rocket launching site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. The base is located among hills close to the northern border with China. The spaceport was built on the site of the village Pongdong-ri which was displaced during construction. It was the site for the 13 April 2012 launch of the North Korean satellite Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3, which was launched to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-Sung. The rocket launch failed, but on 12 December of the same year Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2 was successfully launched and brought into Earth orbit.

The launches were controversial as they were dismissed by the US as tests of ballistic missile technology and hence of breach of an agreement made between North Korea and the USA in February 2012.

During the 2018 North Korea–United States summit, Kim Jong-un promised that North Korea would destroy a missile engine test stand soon. The site was not initially named but was later identified to be the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground by US officials.

South Korea and U.S. suspend joint military drills changing relations with North Korea

;

DPRK Chairman, Kim JongUn Travels To China To Meet With President Xi

;

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's third official trip to one of the regime's major allies, China.

Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News Reporter  -China's state run CCTV reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is currently on a two-day visit to China.

The brief report announced at 10 a.m. local time, did not provide further details on Kim's purpose, nor the itinerary of his trip.

However, the news was sort of expected as several reports had already hinted of the possibility of the visit.

Earlier on Tuesday, sources within the aviation industry said a special plane, identified as an Ukrainian Antonov-148 carrying the logo of North Korea's state airline Air Koryo,... departed Pyongyang a little before 9:30AM, Korea time.

Japan's Nikkei newspaper also reported this morning that Kim had been preparing for a trip to China as early as today,to brief his Chinese counterpart on the Singapore summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

South Korea's presidential office of Cheong WaDae also confirmed the trip and said that it's well aware of the ongoing developments between the two countries.

After the news broke, Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom said that the government is getting enough information about relations between North Korea and China and applauded the nation's intelligence-gathering capabilities.

When asked whether the Blue House was informed of Kim's visit prior to the news, he stopped short of saying whether the Blue House had received information about the visit.

Human Right Issues to be resolved by DPRK

;

President Trump Participates in a Media Availability

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 12, 2018

Capella Hotel, Singapore

4:15 P.M. SGT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much, everybody. We appreciate it. We’re getting ready to go back. We had a tremendous 24 hours. We’ve had a tremendous three months, actually, because this has been going on for quite a while. That was a tape that we gave to Chairman Kim and his people, his representatives. And it captures a lot. It captures what could be done. And that’s a great — a great place. It has the potential to be an incredible place. Between South Korea — if you think about it — and China, it’s got tremendous potential. And I think he understands that and he wants to do what’s right.

It’s my honor today to address the people of the world, following this very historic summit with Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea. We spent very intensive hours together, and I think most of you have gotten the signed document, or you will very shortly. It’s very comprehensive. It’s going to happen.

I stand before you as an emissary of the American people to deliver a message of hope and vision, and a message of peace.

Let me begin by thanking our incredible hosts in Singapore, especially Prime Minister Lee, a friend of mine. This is a country of profound grace and beauty, and we send our warmest wishes to every citizen of Singapore, who really made this visit so important and so pleasant, despite all of the work and all of the long hours.

I also want to thank President Moon of South Korea. He’s working hard. In fact, I’ll be speaking to him right after we’re finished. Prime Minister Abe of Japan — a friend of mine — just left our country, and he wants what’s right for Japan and for the world. He’s a good man. And a very special person, President Xi of China, who has really closed up that border — maybe a little bit less so over the last couple of months, but that’s okay. But he really has. And he’s a terrific person and a friend of mine, and really a great leader of his people. I want to thank them for their efforts to help us get to this very historic day.

Most importantly, I want to thank Chairman Kim for taking the first bold step toward a bright new future for his people. Our unprecedented meeting — the first between an American President and a leader of North Korea — proves that real change is indeed possible.

My meeting with Chairman Kim was honest, direct, and productive. We got to know each other well in a very confined period of time, under very strong, strong circumstance. We’re prepared to start a new history and we’re ready to write a new chapter between our nations.

Nearly 70 years ago — think of that; 70 years ago — an extremely bloody conflict ravaged the Korean Peninsula. Countless people died in the conflict, including tens of thousands of brave Americans. Yet, while the armistice was agreed to, the war never ended. To this day, never ended. But now we can all have hope that it will soon end. And it will. It will soon end.

The past does not have to define the future. Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war. And as history has proven over and over again, adversaries can indeed become friends. We can honor the sacrifice of our forefathers by replacing the horrors of battle with the blessings of peace. And that’s what we’re doing and that’s what we have done.

There is no limit to what North Korea can achieve when it gives up its nuclear weapons and embraces commerce and engagement with the rest of the world — that really wants to engage. Chairman Kim has before him an opportunity like no other: to be remembered as the leader who ushered in a glorious new era of security and prosperity for his people.

Chairman Kim and I just signed a joint statement in which he reaffirmed his “unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” We also agreed to vigorous negotiations to implement the agreement as soon as possible. And he wants to do that. This isn’t the past. This isn’t another administration that never got it started and therefore never got it done.

Chairman Kim has told me that North Korea is already destroying a major missile engine testing site. That’s not in your signed document; we agreed to that after the agreement was signed. That’s a big thing — for the missiles that they were testing, the site is going to be destroyed very soon.

Today is the beginning of an arduous process. Our eyes are wide open, but peace is always worth the effort, especially in this case. This should have been done years ago. This should have been resolved a long time ago, but we’re resolving it now.

Chairman Kim has the chance to seize an incredible future for his people. Anyone can make war, but only the most courageous can make peace.

The current state of affairs cannot endure forever. The people of Korea — North and South — are profoundly talented, industrious, and gifted. These are truly gifted people. They share the same heritage, language, customs, culture, and destiny. But to realize their amazing destiny, to reunite their national family, the menace of nuclear weapons will now be removed.

In the meantime, the sanctions will remain in effect. We dream of a future where all Koreans can live together in harmony, where families are reunited and hopes are reborn, and where the light of peace chases away the darkness of war. This bright future is within — and this is what’s happening. It is right there. It’s within our reach. It’s going to be there. It’s going to happen. People thought this could never take place. It is now taking place. It’s a very great day. It’s a very great moment in the history of the world.

And Chairman Kim is on his way back to North Korea. And I know for a fact, as soon as he arrives, he’s going to start a process that’s going to make a lot of people very happy and very safe.

So it’s an honor to be with everybody today. The media — this is a big gathering of media, I will say. It makes me feel very uncomfortable. (Laughter.) But it is what it is. People understand that this is something very important to all of us, including yourselves and your families.

So thank you very much for being here. We’ll take some questions. Wow. That’s a lot of questions. Go ahead. Sure, go ahead. NBC.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Two questions for you, if you don’t mind. First, the man you met today, Kim Jong Un, as you know, has killed family members, has starved his own people, is responsible for the death of Otto Warmbier. Why are you so comfortable calling him “very talented”?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, he is very talented. Anybody that takes over a situation like he did, at 26 years of age, and is able to run it, and run it tough — I don’t say he was nice or I don’t say anything about it — he ran it. Very few people, at that age — you can take one out of ten thousand, probably, couldn’t do it.

Otto Warmbier is a very special person, and he will be for a long time, in my life. His parents are good friends of mine. I think, without Otto, this would not have happened. Something happened, from that day. It was a terrible thing. It was brutal. But a lot of people started to focus on what was going on, including North Korea.

I really think that Otto is someone who did not die in vain. I told this to his parents. Special young man. And I have to say, special parents, special people. Otto did not die in vain. He had a lot to do with us being here today. Okay? Thank you very much.

Q Mr. President, that second question for you, sir, was on the security — the second question, sir —

THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.

Q — on the security assurances you talked about in your statement. Can you be specific about what assurances you are willing to give to Kim Jong Un? Does that include reducing military capabilities?

THE PRESIDENT: No.

Q And just to follow up on your answer —

THE PRESIDENT: No, we’re not reducing anything. We’re not reducing. At some point, I have to be honest — and I used to say this during my campaign, as you know, probably, better than most — I want to get our soldiers out. I want to bring our soldiers back home. We have, right now, 32,000 soldiers in South Korea, and I’d like to be able to bring them back home. But that’s not part of the equation right now. At some point, I hope it will be, but not right now.

We will be stopping the war games, which will save us a tremendous amount of money, unless and until we see the future negotiation is not going along like it should. But we’ll be saving a tremendous amount of money. Plus, I think it’s very provocative.

Yes, John. Yes, John, go ahead. Oh, go ahead. I’m sorry, I thought you were John Roberts. I looked at you, you just like —

Q It’s all right.

THE PRESIDENT: Much better, right?

Q Frequently — we’re frequently confused, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q Mr. President, this joint statement does not talk about verifiable or irreversible denuclearization.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q Was that a concession on the part of the United States?

THE PRESIDENT: No, not at all. Because if you look at it, I mean, it said we are going to — let’s see here — it will be gone. I don’t think you can be anymore plain than what we’re asking — “issues related to the establishment of the new U.S. DPRK relations” — the building. We talk about the guarantees, and we talk about “unwavering commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” This is the document that we just signed.

Q Did you discuss with Chairman Kim methods to verify, either with the United States or international organizations, that very process? And do you have a timetable —

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we did. Yes, we did. And we’ll be verifying.

Q Can you give that to us?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, we’ll be verifying. It will be verified.

Q How is that going to be achieved, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s going to be achieved by having a lot of people there, and as we develop a certain trust. And we think we have done that. Secretary Pompeo has been really doing a fantastic job — his staff, everybody. As we do that, we’re going to have a lot of people there, and we’re going to be working with them on a lot of other things. But this is complete denuclearization of North Korea, and it will be verified.

Q Will those people be Americans or international —

THE PRESIDENT: Uh, combinations of both. Combinations of both. And we have talked about it, yes.

Yeah, go ahead. Be nice. Be respectful.

Q I’ll be very respectful, sir. What did Kim Jong Un say to you to give you the confidence that, for once in the history of North Korea, they are not cheating the system, and gaming the world, and gaming the people who will have to go in and make sure that they’re actually giving up their nuclear arsenal? What did he say to you?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I mean, very fair question. He actually mentioned the fact that they proceeded down a path in the past, and, ultimately, as you know, nothing got done. In one case, they took billions of dollars — during the Clinton regime — took billions of dollars and nothing happened. That was a terrible thing, and he actually brought it up to me.

And he said we have never gone this far. I don’t think they’ve ever had the confidence, frankly, in a President that they have right now for getting things done and having the ability to get things done. And he was very firm in the fact that he wants to do this. I think he might want to do this as much or even more than me because they see a very bright future for North Korea.

So you never know. Right? We never know. But I’ll tell you what, we signed a very comprehensive document today, and I think most of you have been given that document. But we signed a very, very comprehensive document, and I believe he’s going to live up to that document. In fact, when he lands — which is going to be shortly — I think that he will start that process right away.

Q Do you trust him, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: I do. I do. I can only say that I know him for — really well, it’s been very rhetorical, as you know. I think, without the rhetoric, it wouldn’t have happened. I think without other things going along — I think the establishment of a new team was very important. We have a great team. But I do, I think he wants to get it done. I really feel that very strongly.

Oh, there’s John. I think — you know, you two guys look alike when the light is right on the — the hair is very similar. Let me see, who has better hair? He’s got pretty good hair, John, I hate to —

Q It’s the angelic glow of the backlighting, Mr. President, that makes us look so similar. Of course, the denuclearization — nuclear weapons and biological weapons and whatnot — is one problem in North Korea. Another huge problem is the horrible record that they have on human rights. Was that discussed at all?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q Is that something that you will tackle in the future?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it was discussed. It will be discussed more in the future — human rights. What was also discussed in great detail, John, was that fact that, you know, we have — and I must have had just countless calls and letters and tweets, anything you can do — they want the remains of their sons back. They want the remains of their fathers, and mothers, and all of the people that got caught into that really brutal war, which took place, to a large extent, in North Korea. And I asked for it today, and we got it. That was a very last minute. The remains will be coming back. They’re going to start that process immediately.

But so many people, even during the campaign, they’d say, “Is there any way you can work with North Korea to get the remains of my son back or my father back?” So many people asked me this question. And, you know, I said, “Look, we don’t get along too well with that particular group of people.” But now we do. And he agreed to that so quickly and so nice — it was really a very nice thing, and he understands it. He understands it.

So for the thousands and thousands — I guess way over 6,000 that we know of, in terms of the remains, they’ll be brought back.

Q The POW-MIA issue clearly is a very important one for thousands of Americans.

THE PRESIDENT: Especially to a lot of people that are —

Q But what do you, President Trump, expect Kim Jong Un to do about the human rights record regarding the North Korean people?

THE PRESIDENT: Right. It was discussed. It was discussed relatively briefly compared to denuclearization. Well, obviously, that’s where we started and where we ended. But they will be doing things, and I think he wants to do things. I think he wants to — you’d be very surprised. Very smart. Very good negotiator. Wants to do the right thing.

You know, he brought up the fact that, in the past, they took dialogue far — they never went — they never were like we are. There’s never been anything like what’s taken place now. But they went down the line. Billions of dollars were given, and you know, the following day the nuclear program continued. But this is a much different time, and this is a much different President, in all fairness. This is very important to me. This is one of the — perhaps, one of the reasons that I — one, I campaigned on this issue, as you know very well, John.

Okay. Whoever those people are. I cannot see you with all the lights, but you don’t look like either of the two. Yeah, go ahead. Sure. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. And first of all, congratulations.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Q Can you touch on the issue of a peace treaty? And also, will you travel to Pyongyang anytime soon?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, at a certain time, I will. I said that will be a day that I look very much forward to, at the appropriate time. And I also will be inviting Chairman Kim, at the appropriate time, to the White House. I think it’s really going to be something that will be very important. And he has accepted. I said, at the appropriate time. We want to go a little bit further down the road.

But what we signed today was a lot of things included. And then you have things that weren’t included that we got after the deal was signed. I’ve done that before in my life. We didn’t put it in the agreement because we didn’t have time. And I think most of you have been handed out the agreement or soon will. But I —

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, you have not? Okay. Well, if you could have those agreements passed out. We just finished them, just a little while ago. But if you could have the agreements passed out, we’ll — you’ll see what we’re talking about.

Yes, sir. Go ahead.

Q I will second the congratulations, President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q What part did Japan play? And did the abduction issue come up?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q And also, the fate of the Christians?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q And the follow-up question is when will you be doing an interview with Japanese TV? Fifty-thousand American troops are in Japan. Congratulations, again.

THE PRESIDENT: That’s true. Fifty-thousand great troops. That’s true. Yeah, it did — abduction. Absolutely. This is Prime Minister Abe’s — one of his, certainly — other than the whole denuking subject — certainly his, I would say, his main point. And I brought it up. Absolutely. And they’re going to be working on that. It will be — we didn’t put it down in the document, but it will be worked on.

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Christians, yes. We are — brought it up very strongly. You know, Franklin Graham spent — spent and spends a tremendous amount of time in North Korea. He’s got it very close to his heart. It did come up, and things will be happening. Okay? Thank you. Great question.

Yes, Jon. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Jon.

Q Returning to the question of human rights, you spoke very powerfully on the issue during your State of the Union Address. You showed that — you had the defector in the First Lady’s box with the crutches, who escaped. And you, at that point, said that North Korea has more brutally oppressed its people than any other regime on Earth. Do you still believe that is the case having sat down with Kim Jong Un? And does he need to change that?

THE PRESIDENT: Right. Jon, I believe it’s a rough situation over there. There’s no question about it. And we did discuss it today pretty strongly. I mean, knowing what the main purpose of what we were doing is: denuking. But discussed it at pretty good length. We’ll be doing something on it. It’s rough. It’s rough in a lot of places, by the way. Not just there. But it’s rough, and we will continue that. And I think, ultimately, we’ll agree to something. But it was discussed at length outside of the nuclear situation, one of the primary topics.

Q But do you think that needs to change to bring on this glorious new era you’ve talked about? Are they going to have to —

THE PRESIDENT: I think it will change. Yeah. I think it probably has to, but I think it will. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Steve. That’s you, Steve? Right there.

Q Yes, sir. Thank you. What timetable do you envision for their denuclearization? And in the meantime, are you thinking about easing any sanctions?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, scientifically, I’ve been watching and reading a lot about this, and it does take a long time to pull off complete denuclearization. It takes a long time. Scientifically, you have to wait certain periods of time, and a lot of things happen. But…

Q Having sat down with Kim Jong Un. And does he have to change that?

THE PRESIDENT: Jon, I believe it’s a rough situation over there. There’s no question about it. And we did discuss it today pretty strongly. I mean, knowing what — the main purpose of what we were doing is: denuking. But discussed at pretty good length. We’ll be doing something on it. It’s rough. It’s rough in a lot of places, by the way — not just there. But it’s rough. And we will continue that, and I think, ultimately, we’ll agree to something. But it was discussed at length. Outside of — outside of the nuclear situation, one of the primary topics.

Q But do you think that needs to change to bring on this glorious new era you’ve talked about? Are they going to have to —

THE PRESIDENT: I think it will change, yeah. I think it probably has to. But I think it will. Yeah.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Steve? That’s you, Steve? Right there.

Q Yes, sir. Thank you. What timetable do you envision for their denuclearization? And in the meantime, are you thinking about easing any sanctions?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, scientifically, I’ve been watching and reading a lot about this, and it does take a long time to pull off complete denuclearization. It takes a long time. Scientifically, you have to wait certain periods of time, and a lot of things happen. But despite that, once you start the process, it means it’s pretty much over; you can’t use them. That’s the good news. And that’s going to start very — very soon. I believe that’s going to start very soon. We will do it as fast as it can mechanically and physically be done, Steve.

Q And the sanctions?

THE PRESIDENT: The sanctions will come off when we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor. Sanctions played a big role, but they’ll come off at that point. I hope it’s going to be soon, but they’ll come off. As you know, and as I’ve said, the sanctions right now remain. But at a certain point, I actually look forward to taking them off. And they’ll come off when we know we’re down the road — where it’s not going to happen, nothing is going to happen. Okay?

Yes, go ahead. Please.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q Congratulations on this historic summit.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Congratulations to everybody, by the way. Congratulations to everybody.

Go ahead.

Q You signed a document with Kim Jong Un. It’s essentially a piece of paper. Yesterday, we had a briefing from the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He said the following: “Many Presidents previously have signed off on pieces of paper only to find that the North Koreans either didn’t promise what we thought they had, or actually reneged on those promises.” What makes this time different, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you have a different administration. You have a different President. You have a different Secretary of State. You have people that are — you know, it’s very important to them. And we get it done. The other groups, maybe it wasn’t a priority. I don’t think they could have done it if it was a priority, frankly. I don’t think they honestly could have done it even if it was a priority.

And it would have been easier back then. It would have been — for me, it would have been much easier if this were 10 years ago or 5 years ago. And I’m not just blaming President Obama. I mean, this goes back — for 25 years, this should have happened. I was given a very tough hand. I was given this, I was given the Iran deal, and plenty of other problems.

But we are — we’re doing really well. And the Iran deal, I have to be honest, I did it because nuclear is always number one to me. Nuclear is number one.

But on the Iran deal, I think Iran is a different country now than it was three or four months ago. I don’t think they’re looking so much to the Mediterranean. I don’t think they’re looking so much at Syria, like they were, with total confidence. I don’t think they’re so confident right now.

But I hope — with that being said, I hope that, at the appropriate time, after these sanctions kick in — and they are brutal, what we’ve put on Iran — I hope that they’re going to come back and negotiate a real deal, because I’d love to be able to do that. But right now, it’s too soon for that.

Yes, please.

Q Mr. President, you also didn’t talk about establishing diplomatic relations, exchanging ambassadors. How long before that happens?

THE PRESIDENT: Good question. Hopefully soon. But we’ll have to get things moving first. Very — a little bit early for that. We have to get things moving.

Yes, go ahead. Hi.

Q Can you clarify, when you said you were stopping “war games,” so you are stopping the military exercises with South Korea?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, we’ve done exercises for a long period of time, working with South Korea. And we call them “war games,” and I call them “war games.” And they’re tremendously expensive. The amount of money that we spend on that is incredible. And South Korea contributes, but not 100 percent, which is certainly a subject that we have to talk to them about also. And that has to do with the military expense and also the trade.

So we’re doing that. We actually have a new deal with South Korea, in terms of the trade deal, but we have to talk to them. We have to talk to many countries about treating us fairly.

But the war games are very expensive. We pay for a big majority of them. We fly in bombers from Guam. I said — when I first started, I said, “Where do the bombers come from?” “Guam. Nearby.” I said, “Oh, great, nearby. Where’s nearby?” “Six and a half hours.” Six and a half hours — that’s a long time for these big massive planes to be flying to South Korea to practice and then drop bombs all over the place, and then go back to Guam. I know a lot about airplanes; it’s very expensive. And I didn’t like it.

And what I did say is — and I think it’s very provocative, I have to tell you, Jennifer, it’s a very provocative situation when I see that, and you have a country right next door. So under the circumstances that we are negotiating a very comprehensive, complete deal, I think it’s inappropriate to be having war games.

So, number one, we save money — a lot. And number two, it really is something that I think they very much appreciate it.

Q Does North Korea give you something in return, though?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’ve gotten — you know, I’ve heard that. I mean, some of the people that — I don’t know, maybe they really mean it. I don’t always want to go against the press because I just don’t — especially not today, this is too important. But I noticed that some of the people were saying that the President has agreed to meet, he has given up so much. I gave up nothing. I’m here. I haven’t slept in 25 hours, but I thought it was appropriate to do — because we have been negotiating for literally around the clock with them, and with us, and with John, and with Mike, and a whole team of very talented people.

But we haven’t given up anything, other than — you’re right, I agreed to meet. And I think the meeting was every bit as good for the United States as it was for North Korea. But I just wrote down some of the things we got. And they — you know, they — sure, they got a meeting. But only a person that dislikes Donald Trump would say that I’ve agreed to make a big commitment.

Sure, I’ve agreed to take a period of time and come here and meet, and that’s good. But I think it’s great for us, as a country, and I think it’s good for them.

But what did they do to justify this meeting? Secured commitment for complete denuclearization; that’s the big thing. They secured the release of three American hostages. They already gave them to us two months ago. These people are now living happily back in their homes, with their families. And it was pretty rough for them, to put it mildly.

Secure the commitment to recover the remains, including — these are of fallen heroes. And they’re giving a commitment, they’re starting it immediately, to recover their remains. And I just went through how many people asked me about it. I was amazed, actually. So many people would ask me, “Is it possible? Is it possible?” At that time we had no relationship to Chairman Kim or to anybody else in North Korea. You know, it was a very closed society. So we’re getting the remains back.

Secured the halt of all missile and nuclear tests for — how long has it been? Seven months? You haven’t had a missile go up. For seven months, you haven’t had a nuclear test; you haven’t had a nuclear explosion. I remember a nuclear event took place — 8.8 in the Richter scale. And they announced — I heard it on the radio — they announced that a massive — you know, an earthquake took place somewhere in Asia. And then they said it was in North Korea. And then they found out it was a nuclear test. I said, “I never heard of a Richter scale in the high 8s.”

And if you look, there has been no missile launches. They’ve blown up their missile area. That’s going to take place. That has not been written into the contract. We’re going to give you the exact details on that. But they secured a halt of all missiles and of all nuclear tests. They secured the closure of their single primary nuclear test site. All three of them — they’re in an area that’s common around each other — they secured the closure.

They secured the commitment to destroy the missile engine testing site. That was not in your agreement. I got that after we signed the agreement. I said, “Do me a favor. You’ve got this missile engine testing site. We know where it is because of the heat.” It’s incredible the equipment we have, to be honest with you. I said, “Can you close it up?” He’s going to close it up.

We maintained the ability to continue to apply sanctions. So we’re applying sanctions. Now I had 300 sanctions that I was getting ready to put on last week. And I said, you know, I can’t really put on sanctions when I’m meeting with — I thought it would be very disrespectful. Three hundred very big ones, powerful ones. And I said it would be disrespectful.

So, Jennifer, when you look at all of those things that we got — and when we got our hostages back, I didn’t pay $1.8 billion in cash like the hostages that came back from Iran, which was a disgraceful situation, what took place.

So we’ve gotten a lot. So when I hear somebody in the media say that President Trump has agreed to meet — like, it’s not a big deal to meet. I think we should meet on a lot of different topics, not just this one. And I really believe a lot of great things can happen.

Yes. Go ahead, please.

Q Sir, you just listed off a lot of things that you say you got in this meeting. It wasn’t too long ago, though, that you said you defined the success of this meeting by North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s what they’re doing.

Q Well, can you talk about how —

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. That’s what they’re doing. I mean, I don’t think the —

Q — how you pressed Kim Jong Un for complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I did, honestly —

Q And can you why you didn’t secure those details in this agreement?

THE PRESIDENT: Because there was no time. I’m here one day. We’re together for many hours intensively, but the process is now going to take place. And I would be surprised, Mike, if they haven’t even started already. They have started; they blew up their sites. They blew up their testing site.

But I will say, he knew, prior to coming — you know, this wasn’t like a surprise. It wasn’t like we’ve never discussed it. We discussed it. Mike discussed it very strongly with his counterpart in North Korea. They knew that this was — let’s say they didn’t agree to that I couldn’t sign any agreement. There was no agreement that could have been signed. So they understood that.

And it wasn’t a big point today because, really, this had been taken care of, more than any other thing. Because it was all about this. This has been taken care of before we got here. So when we brought that up today, you see the language. It’s very strong. It’s in the document.

Yes, ma’am.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Could you talk about the military consequences for North Korea if they don’t follow through on the commitments that you’re talking about? Could there be military action?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t want to talk. Yeah, I know. That’s a tough thing to talk about because I don’t want to be threatening. I don’t want to be threatening. They understood that. And you’ve seen what was, perhaps, going to happen.

And you know, Seoul has 28 million people. We think we have big cities. You look at New York, where it has 8 million people. We think it’s a big city. Seoul has 28 million people. Think of that. And it’s right next to the border. It’s right next to the DMZ. It’s right there. I mean, if this would have happened, I think — you know, I’ve heard, oh, a hundred-thousand people. I think you could have lost 20 million people, 30 million people. This is really an honor for me to be doing this because I think, you know, potentially, you could have lost, you know, 30-, 40-, 50 million people. The city of Seoul, one of the biggest cities in the world, is right next to the border.

Q You once spoke about fire and fury. Is that no longer the case?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, at that time we needed, perhaps, fire and fury. Because we could not have allowed that kind of capability from the standpoint of the United States. And certainly, Japan wasn’t going to allow it either. Japan is right next door.

Q One more thing. Mr. President, could you tell us about the video that you showed before this?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q When did you show that to Kim? What was the goal there?

THE PRESIDENT: Today. Yeah, we had it made up by some — I hope you liked it. I thought it was good. I thought it was interesting enough to show. One in English and one in Korean. And we had it made up. I showed it to him today. Actually, during the meeting — toward the end of the meeting. And I think he loved it. They were giving — we didn’t have a big screen like you have the luxury of having. We didn’t need it because we had it on a cassette and — an iPad. And they played it. And about eight of their representatives were watching it, and I thought they were fascinated.

But I thought it was well done. I showed it to you because that’s the future. I mean, that could very well be the future. And the other alternative is just not a very good alternative. It’s just not good. But I showed it because I really want him to do something. Now, I don’t think I had to show it because I really believe he wants to — I think he wants to get it done.

Yes. Go ahead. How’s Staten Island Ferry doing? Okay? He wrote the best story about me with the Staten Island Ferry. And after that, he’s never written a good story.

Q That’s a long time ago, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t know what happened. It’s a long time ago.

Q Mr. President, it’s been a busy week for you on the international stage. You’re leaving this summit here in Singapore having determined that Kim Jong Un is a talented man. You left the G7 Summit a few days ago in Canada having determined that Prime Minister Trudeau is weak and dishonest. What do you say to America’s allies who worry that you might be jeopardizing our long-term alliances and who worry that you might be treating our historic friends as enemies and our historic enemies as friends?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I think it’s a very fair question. I had a very good meeting with the G7. And I left the meeting. And, I’ll be honest, we are being taken advantage of by virtually every one of those countries. Very, very seriously. Now, the United States, because of bad management at the top, because of Presidents that didn’t care about trade or didn’t understand it or whatever reason. For many years, with China being, obviously, the most successful at it, but the European Union is second — $151 billion we lost. They were represented at the meeting. And we’re being taken advantage of on trade.

Canada does have very big advantages over us in terms of trade deficits. We have a big trade deficit with Canada, I was reading, where, oh, it’s actually a surplus. Not a surplus. It’s either 17, but it could actually be 100. You know, they put out a document. I don’t know if you saw it. They didn’t want me to see it, but we found it. Perhaps they were trying to show the power they have. It’s close to $100 billion a year loss with Canada.

They don’t take our farm products — many of them. They charge what was 270 percent, but somebody told me the other day that a few months ago they raised it to 295 percent for dairy products. And it’s very unfair to our farmers, and it’s very unfair to the people of our country — the workers, the farmers, the companies. And we are not able to trade. They have tremendous barriers up. They have tremendous tariffs.

So when I put in a countervailing tariff just to get us up a little bit so the balance isn’t so much — it’s like this — they said, “Oh, that’s so terrible.” I said, “What’s terrible?” We have to catch you a little bit. We have to have a little balance. Even if it’s not complete, we have to have a little balance. I say this with many countries.

Anyway, we came — we finished the meeting. Really, everybody was happy. And I agreed to sign something. I asked for changes; I demanded changes. And those changes were made. In fact, the picture with Angela Merkel, who I get along with very well, where I’m sitting there like this, that picture was we’re waiting for the document because I wanted to see the final document as changed by the changes that I requested.

That was a very friendly — I know it didn’t look friendly, and I know it was reported like sort of nasty both ways. I was angry at her or she — actually, we were just talking, the whole group, about something unrelated to everything, very friendly, waiting for the document to come back so I could read it before I leave.

Anyway, I left and it was very friendly. When I got onto the plane, I think that Justin probably didn’t know that Air Force One has about 20 televisions, and I see the television. And he’s giving a news conference about how he will not be pushed around by the United States. And I say, push him around? We just shook hands. It was very friendly.

Look, countries cannot continue to take advantage of us on trade. The number are out. Over the last couple of years, and over the last many years — but over the last couple of years, this country has lost $800 billion on trade with other countries, the biggest one being China. Eight-hundred billion dollars. A hundred fifty-one billion with the European Union. They don’t take our agricultural products, barely. They don’t take a lot of what we have, and yet they send Mercedes into us, they send BMWs into us by the millions. It’s very unfair, and it’s very unfair to our workers. And I’m going to straighten it out. And it won’t even be tough. Okay? Thank you.

Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: I would like to involve Congress, yes. And no, I have a good relationship with Justin Trudeau. I really did. Other than he had a news conference that he had because he assumed I was in an airplane and I wasn’t watching. He learned. That’s going to cost a lot of money for the people of Canada. He learned. You can’t do that. You can’t do that.

We laughed. We had a very good relationship. I’ve had a good relationship with Justin. I have a good relationship with all. I have a very good relationship with Angela Merkel. But on NATO, we’re paying 4.2 percent; she’s paying 1 percent of a much smaller GDP than we have. We’re paying 4.2 percent on a much larger — we’re paying for — I mean, anyone can say — from 60 to 90 percent of NATO. And we’re protecting countries of Europe. And then on top of it, they kill us on trade. So we just can’t have it that way. It’s unfair to our taxpayers and to our people.

But no, I have a good relationship with Justin. And I have a, I think, a very good relationship with Chairman Kim right now. I really do. I think — I hope it’s good because if it is, we’re going to solve a very big problem. I think we’ve gone a long way to solving it today.

Should we keep going for a little while? Sarah? I don’t know. It’s up to the legendary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Should we keep going, Sarah? Okay, we’ll go. Well, I don’t care. Hey, you know, it just means we get home a little later in the evening. Right?

Yeah. Go ahead. Sure. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Hi, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: How are you?

Q I’m good.

THE PRESIDENT: Nice to see you.

Q From The Straits Times of Singapore. Welcome to the country.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

Q I hope you enjoyed our food.

THE PRESIDENT: Beautiful country. I did.

Q I just wanted to find out. You described this as a process. What is the immediate next step? Is there some ongoing dialogue —

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. We’re getting together next week to go into the details.

Q And that’s (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: Secretary Pompeo. Yeah. Next week, with John Bolton and our entire team, to go over the details and to get this stuff done. We want to get it done; he wants to get it done. We’re also working very much with South Korea. We’re working with Japan. We’re working with China, to a lesser extent, but we’re working with China.

Q And you are coming back to Singapore?

THE PRESIDENT: I would come back gladly. Your Prime Minister was fantastic. We were with him yesterday. He’s done a great job. It was very welcoming. It really, probably had — it probably made a difference, actually. It’s a great place.

Thank you very much.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, ma’am.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. What was it about that first interaction with Chairman Kim this morning that that made you decide not to walk away after you said that you would know within the first minute if he was sincere or not?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. I’ve said that about relationships. I’ve said that about people. You know in the first second. Now, I was generous. I said five seconds. But you know in the first second, in some cases. Sometimes that doesn’t work out. But sometimes it does.

From the beginning, we got along. But there’s been a lot of groundwork. This wasn’t like we went and we started talking about — as you know, right? We didn’t just come in and start talking about these very complex subjects that have been going on for 70 years. We’ve been discussing this for months. And, you know, once the rhetoric stopped, once they did a great thing –you know, North Korea did a great thing by going to the Olympics. Because the Olympics — and President Moon will tell you this — the Olympics was not exactly doing great. People didn’t feel like being bombed out of the Opening Ceremonies. You know, they weren’t exactly selling tickets. And as soon as the Chairman — Chairman Kim — said, “Let’s participate in the Olympics,” it sold like wildfire and was a great success as an Olympics. It was a great success. He did a great thing.

But since that time, pretty much since that time — because, as you know, a delegation came from South Korea who had just met with North Korea. They came to the White House. They told me lots of things, including the fact that they’d be willing to denuke. We have one of their great people here today. That they were willing to denuke. And once that started, we have been really talking about that from the end of the Olympics when the whole delegation came to say various things, including denuking.

Q If I may, a second question. In the document that you signed earlier today, North Korea agreed to commit to denuclearization. To borrow a phrase that you have used to criticize your predecessors and political opponents, how do you ensure that North Korea is not all talk, no action going forward?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think can you ensure anything? Can I ensure that you’re going to be able to sit down properly when you sit down? I mean, you can’t ensure anything. All I can say is they want to make a deal. That’s what I do. My whole life has been deals. I’ve done great at it, and that’s what I do. And I know when somebody wants to deal, and I know when somebody doesn’t. A lot of politicians don’t. That’s not their thing, but it is my thing.

I mean, again, this really could have been done, I think, easier a long time ago. But I know for a — I just feel very strongly — my instinct, my ability, or talent — they want to make a deal. And making a deal is a great thing for the world. It’s also a great thing for China because I can’t imagine that China has, you know, is happy with somebody having nuclear weapons so close. So, you know, that’s — China was very helpful.

So I think he wants to make a deal. Can anybody be certain? But we’re going to be certain soon because the negotiations continue. Okay? Thank you very much.

Go ahead.

Q You mentioned that you have raised extensively the issue of human rights with Chairman Kim.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q I wonder what you would say to the group of people who have no ability whatsoever to hear or to see this press conference — the 100,000 North Koreans kept in a network of gulags. Have you betrayed them by legitimizing the regime in Pyongyang?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I think I’ve helped them because I think things will change. I think I’ve helped them. There’s nothing I can say. All I can do is do what I can do. We have to stop the nuclearization. We have to do other things, and that’s a very important thing. So at a certain point, hopefully, you’ll be able to ask me a much more positive question or make a statement.

But not much I can do right now. At a certain point, I really believe he’s going to do things about it. I think they are one of the great winners today, that large group of people that you’re talking about. I think, ultimately, they’re going to be one of the great winners as a group.

Yes, sir. Go ahead. Go ahead. Yeah.

Q Would you ever consider removing the sanctions without significant improvement in the human rights situation?

THE PRESIDENT: No. I want significant improvement. I want to know that it won’t be happening. And again, once you start that process, there will be a point at which, even though you won’t be finished for a while because it can’t happen scientifically or mechanically, but you’re not going to be able to go back. You know, once we reach that point, I’ll start to give that very serious thought.

Yes. Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead. You first.

Q Mr. President, did you also discuss the cost of denuclearization and how North Korea is about to foot the bill while the crippling sanctions remain in place? I’m from (inaudible) News Agency Singapore.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that South Korea and I think that Japan will help them very greatly. I think they’re prepared to help them. They know they’re going to have to help them. I think they’re going to help them very greatly. We won’t have to help them. The United States has been paying a big price in a lot of different places. But South Korea, which obviously is right next door, and Japan, which essentially is next door, they’re going to be helping them. And I think they’re going to be doing a very generous job and a terrific job. So they will be helping them.

Yes, ma’am. Go ahead. Behind. Yes.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q I’d like to follow up on Steve’s question. He asked you how long it would take to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. You said a long time. What does that mean?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t know, when you say a long time. I think we will do it as fast as it can be done scientifically, as fast as it can be done mechanically. I don’t think — I mean, I’ve read horror stories. It’s a 15-year process. Okay? Assuming you wanted to do it quickly, I don’t believe that. I think whoever wrote that is wrong. But there will be a point at which, when you’re 20 percent through, you can’t go back.

I had an uncle who was a great professor for, I believe, 40 years at MIT. And I used to discuss nuclear with him all the time. He was a great expert. He was a great, brilliant genius. Dr. John Trump at MIT. I think he was there 40 years, I was told. In fact, the head of MIT sent me a book on my uncle. But we used to talk about nuclear. You’re talking about a very complex subject. It’s not just like, “Oh, gee. Let’s get rid of the nukes.” It takes a period of time.

But the main period of time that I’m talking is that first period, when you hit a certain point you can’t go back. It’s very hard to go back.

Q And how long will that take?

THE PRESIDENT: We don’t know, but it will go pretty quickly.

Go ahead. Sure.

Q Thanks, Mr. President. I wanted to ask again on the sanctions campaign.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q You alluded at the very beginning that the Chinese are not doing as great a job securing the border as they were before. You expressed some doubts when Kim went to see President Xi. The Russian foreign minister was in Pyongyang and said there shouldn’t be any sanctions while these negotiations are under way. And the South Koreans are now talking about restoring some form of trade. So with all of those players appearing to be moving toward eroding sanctions, how can you keep the sanctions regime in place? What leverage do you have on these countries?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think we have a lot of leverage. I think we have tremendous leverage. I do believe that China, despite my relationship with President Xi — a man who I told you I have great respect for and like, also, a lot. You know, we’re having very tough talks on trade. And I think that probably affects China somewhat. But I have to do what I have to do. And I think, over the last two months, the border is more open than it was when we first started. But that is what it is. We have to do it. We have a tremendous deficit in trade, commonly known as a trade deficit. We have a tremendous deficit in trade with China, and we have to do something about it. We can’t continue to let that happen.

And I think that has had an impact on my relationship, in terms of the border. I don’t think it has the relationship — you know, I don’t think it affects my feeling or my relationship to President Xi. But when we first started, we weren’t ready to go that route. And as we started preparing and getting ready to do that, I think that’s had an impact on, frankly, the border. Which is a shame. But I have to do it. I have no choice. For our country, I have to do it.

South Korea will do whatever is necessary to get a deal done. And if that means we can’t trade, then I’m not going to trade. They’re definitely not going to trade. If they think — and they would do this with our concurrence — if they think that they can do some work because we’re very far down the line — we’re actually very far. You know, that document, when you read it today, that’s far down the line. That’s not something that just happened to be put together. This was done over months. And again, the rhetoric was important, and the sanctions were important. I don’t even know which one was more important. They were both important.

Yeah. Go ahead.

Q Mr. President, David Sanger for The New York Times. I was wondering if you could give us some sense of whether the Chairman Kim told you how many nuclear weapons he believes he’s made, whether he’s willing to turn those over first, and then whether, in your mind, you need to do more than was done in the Iran deal for actually dismantling the — both the uranium and the plutonium processes. And whether or not you had a sense that Chairman Kim really understood what that involves and had a timetable in his own mind of shutting that.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, David, I can tell you he understands. He understands it so well. He understands it better than the people that are doing the work for him. That is an easy one. As far as what he has, it’s substantial. Very substantial. The timing will go quickly. I believe you’ll see some good action. I mean, as an example, one of the things with the missile site, I think you’re probably surprised to hear that — that was a throw-in at the end, the missile site.

But I really believe, David, that it’s going to go very quickly. I really believe that it’s going to go fast. And it is a very substantial arsenal. There’s no question about it. You know, I used to say maybe it’s all talk and no action. But we have pretty good intelligence into that. Although, probably less there than any other country. You understand that maybe better than anybody in the room. Probably less there than any other country. But we have enough intelligence to know that what they have is very substantial.

This is why, David, I always say that this shouldn’t have taken place so late into the process. Wouldn’t this have been better if it was 5 years ago or 20 years ago or 15 years ago and we didn’t have to worry about not having a successful meeting like today? So — and I still love my first interview with you, David. I still have that interview, actually.

Yeah. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q (Inaudible) the second summit — if there is a second summit with Chairman Kim Jong Un, would it be in Pyongyang or Washington?

THE PRESIDENT: We haven’t set that up. We’ll probably need another summit. We’ll probably need — or meeting. We can use a different term. But we’ll probably need another one. We’ll probably — I will say this, we’re much further along than I would have thought. I did not think we’d be here. I thought — and I’ve told people — I didn’t want to build up people’s hopes too much. I told people I thought that this would be a successful meeting if we got along, we developed a relationship, and we could have maybe gotten to this point in three or four months from now. But it really happened very quickly. A lot of that was because of the foundation that was, you know, put down before we met. A lot of things happened very fast.

We didn’t have — as an example, bringing back the remains. That was not one of the things that was on our agenda today. I brought that up at the very end because so many people have talked to me about it. And I brought it up at the very end. And he was really very gracious. Instead of saying, “Well, let’s talk about it the next time.” He said, “It makes sense. We will do it.”

And he knew — you know, they know where many of those incredible people are. Where they’re buried along roads, along highways, along paths, usually, because our soldiers were moving back and forth and they had to move rapidly. It’s very sad. But he knew. And that was brought up at the very end. And you know, it was really great that he was able to do it. A lot of people are going to be very happy about that.

Yes. Go ahead, please.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Q Emerald Robinson, One America News. Congratulations.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you for the nice way you treat us. We appreciate it. Really, it’s very good. It’s really beautiful what you do. Go ahead.

Q So you —

THE PRESIDENT: And now I’ll probably get this killer question.

Q (Laughs.) Well, I do want to talk about the future of North Korea.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. It’s all right.

Q Specifically the people are — Kim Jong Un is saying he’s wanting a brighter future with prosperity for his people, yet we know they’ve lived under oppression. You showed him this video of what the future can be like. But do you have an idea specifically of the model that you would like to go towards? Economically, is he open to more economic freedom?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, it’s a good question. So you saw a tape today, and that, I think, was done really well. But that was done at the highest level of future development. I told him, you may not want this. You may want to do a much smaller version of this. I mean, you’re going to do something. But you may want to do a smaller version. You may not want that with the trains and the everything. You know, it’s super — everything the top. And maybe you won’t want that. It’s going to be up to them. It’s going to be up to them. It’s going to be up to the people what they want. They may not want that. I can understand that too.

But that was a version of what could happen, what could take place. As an example, they have great beaches. You see that whenever they’re exploding their cannons into the ocean, right? I said, “Boy, look at the view. Wouldn’t that make a great condo behind?” And I explained, I said, “You know, instead of doing that, you could have the best hotels in the world right there.” Think of it from a real estate perspective. You have South Korea, you have China, and they own the land in the middle. How bad is that, right? It’s great. But I told him, I said, you may not want to do what’s there. You may want to do a smaller version of it or — you know. And that could be.

Although, I tell you what — he looked at that tape, he looked at that iPad, and I’m telling you they really enjoyed it, I believe. Okay?

Yeah. Go ahead. A couple more. Okay. We’ll do three more. Yeah. Go ahead. Go.

Q Brian Bennett from Time Magazine.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Hi, Brian. Am I on the cover again this week? Boy, have I — so many covers.

Q It’s entirely possible.

THE PRESIDENT: Huh? I know. That’s okay.

Q Do you now see Kim Jong Un as an equal?

THE PRESIDENT: In what way?

Q You just showed a video that showed you and Kim Jong Un on equal footing in discussing the future of —

THE PRESIDENT: No. I think that — I don’t view it that way. See, I don’t view it that way. I’ll do whatever it takes to make the world a safer place. If I have to say I’m sitting on a stage — I mean, I understand what you’re getting at. If I have to say I’m sitting on a stage with Chairman Kim and that’s going to get us to save 30 million lives — could be more than that — I’m willing to sit on the stage. I’m willing to travel to Singapore very proudly, very gladly.

Again, I — you know, other than the fact that it is taking my time, they have given up a tremendous amount. They’ve given it up even before. And even add the Olympics to it. You know, you could add the Olympics to the question. They went to the Olympics. They took an Olympics that was going to be a massive failure that maybe wouldn’t have even opened, and they made it a tremendous success by agreeing to participate. Add that to the list of things that they’ve done.

So, Brian, if I can save millions of lives by coming here, sitting down, and establishing a relationship with someone who’s a very powerful man, who’s got firm control of a country, and that country has very powerful nuclear weapons, it’s my honor to do it.

Q Are you concerned that the video you just showed could be used by Kim as propaganda to show him as an equal —

THE PRESIDENT: No, I’m not concerned at all. We can use that video for other countries.

Go ahead.

Q Mr. President, in the year 2000, President Clinton got a request by Kim Jong Il.

THE PRESIDENT: Got impressed?

Q Got a request —

THE PRESIDENT: Oh.

Q From Kim Jong Il to travel to Pyongyang and meet him. And Clinton refused. He sent Secretary of State Albright.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. He did a great deal. And he spent $3 billion and got nothing. And he started making nuclear weapons a day later.

Q Mr. President, you, on the other hand, got the request and right away went here to meet him. And do you understand those people who say that you gave him the ultimate present — the legitimacy to a regime who oppress its people without an ongoing process before you, as the U.S. President, as the leader of the free world, meet and shake hands with this leader of North Korea who is perceived to be oppressing brutally his own people?

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Good. I think we just answered the question.

Q But do you understand those people?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I understand them much better than you do.

Okay. Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Thank you very much. Yes.

Q Mr. President, Eliana Johnson with Politico.

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Hi.

Q Hi. You mentioned a couple specific concessions that you got from Kim: the return of remains and the destruction of the nuclear site. And I know you said that was an add-on —

THE PRESIDENT: And much more. And much more than that.

Q Yeah. I know you said the last thing was an add-on and it wasn’t in the agreement, but that he gave you his word. If he doesn’t follow through on these things, what are you prepared to do in response? And will you lose faith in this process?

THE PRESIDENT: No. I think he’ll do it. I really believe that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this. I really believe it. And it was really the engine testing site, in addition to all of the other things that they’ve agreed to do. It was the — they have a very powerful engine testing site that, again, we’re able to see because of the heat that it emits. And, yeah, I’m able to — I’m very happy. I’ll tell you what — I’m very happy with those two points — the two points you mentioned.

But I think you might be referring to the thing that’s not in, which is the engine testing site. I think he’s — I think — honestly, I think he’s going to do these things. I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say, “Hey, I was wrong.” I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of an excuse. (Laughter.)

Okay, one or two. One more. Come on. Yeah, go ahead. Sure.

Q Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you.

Q (Inaudible) with Xinhua Media Group China. I just would like to know, will you call Chinese President Xi when you come back to D.C. to discuss about achievements you made today with Chairman Kim?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I will.

Q And what’s your expectation about China’s role to accelerate the process to establish a long-term peace mechanism?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, my expectation about China is that China is a great country with a great leader, and a friend of mine. And I really believe that he’s happy that we’ve made this kind of progress. And I’ve heard from him. But I will be calling him very shortly. Maybe even before I land. Okay?

And I have to say, you know — and the United States is a great country. And we have set records economically — over $7 trillion in net worth addition to what we have. And we are almost twice the size, the economy of the United States. Nobody talks about this, because you do hear a lot about China, rightfully so. But the United States, now, is almost twice the size of the economy of China. We have a great country and we’re on a correct path.

Okay. One more. That will be it.

Q Mr. President, from South Korea.

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, South Korea? Where’s South Korea? I think you deserve — go ahead. Go. You deserve one. Yes. You deserve one.

Q I’ve got two questions for you, Mr. President. First, you mentioned earlier that you’re going to talk with South Korean President Moon Jae-in over the phone.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q What do you plan to discuss with him?

THE PRESIDENT: I just want to tell him about the meeting. Very successful. And he’ll be very much involved in the final negotiation. He’s a very, very fine gentleman. Also a friend of mine. And I look forward to speaking. He’ll be very happy when he hears about — I’ve already sent word to him about what happened. I sent the document to him, actually, and all of the details behind the document. So I’ll be talking to him very shortly.

Q If I may ask another question. In signing the peace treaty, do you hope to — do you plan to work this out with North Korea’s Chairman Kim only, or what do you think about the involvement of South Korea and China as the signatories?

THE PRESIDENT: I’d like to have them involved also. There’s a question as to whether or not we’re supposed to or whether or not we legally have to. I don’t care. I think it would be great to have China involved and also, of course, South Korea. Okay?

Q Is there a transcript of (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: What?

Q Is there a transcript of (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: Mike, do they have a transcript? They probably have a rough transcript, which you can give us, if you have one.

Q So that was recorded?

THE PRESIDENT: No, they didn’t record it. I don’t think they recorded it. Are there any recordings of it? I wish there were. Because it is interesting stuff.

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Say it?

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t. We probably have some notes or something. But they have, actually, detailed notes, I would imagine. But we had a great conversation. It was a very heart-felt conversation.

Q How do you believe (inaudible) verify —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t have to verify because I have one of the great memories of all time. So I don’t have to. Okay? Okay?

Q What about the previous phone calls you had with Kim Jong Un? You had phone calls (inaudible).

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, but I don’t want to discuss it. But we did is we’ve had numerous discussions. We’ve had very important relationships established at Mike’s level and other levels. In fact, a couple of people are here from, as you know, from North Korea. They’re in the room. We have a few people in the back also, in the room.

So when we went into this final agreement, very importantly, we really didn’t go in cold. We went in with tremendous relationship and tremendous knowledge. And I think that’s why we got it done.

So I’m going to head back. I don’t know about you folks, but it’s been a long time since I’ve taken it easy. So now we can take it a little bit easy, and then the work begins again. And I appreciate everybody being here. I hope we’ve answered your questions. And thank you very much. And sort of congratulations to everybody, because this is, really — to me it’s a very important event in world history. And to be really true to myself, I have to add, I want to get it completed. ”

So Mike, our whole team has to get to work and get it completed. Because otherwise, we’ve done a good job. But if you don’t the ball over the goal line, it doesn’t mean enough. Okay?

So thank you, and sort of congratulations to everybody in the room. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thank you. (Applause)

END

5:20 P.M. SGT

President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un

Signed a Declaration of Friendship

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

REMARKS

Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
at the Singapore Summit

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 12, 2018

Sentosa Island, Singapore

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a first, historic summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted a comprehensive, in-depth, and sincere exchange of opinions on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.–DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Convinced that the establishment of new U.S.–DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and recognizing that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un state the following:

The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.–DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.

The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.

Having acknowledged that the U.S.–DPRK summit—the first in history—was an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries and for the opening up of a new future, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement fully and expeditiously. The United States and the DPRK commit to hold follow-on negotiations, led by the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and a relevant high-level DPRK official, at the earliest possible date, to implement the outcomes of the U.S.–DPRK summit.

President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have committed to cooperate for the development of new U.S.–DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula and of the world.

DONALD J. TRUMP

President of the United States of America

KIM JONG UN

Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

June 12, 2018

Sentosa Island

Singapore

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

REMARKS

Remarks by President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Before Expanded Bilateral Meeting

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 12, 2018

Capella Hotel, Singapore

9:54 A.M. SGT

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Mr. Chairman, it’s a great honor to be with you. And I know that we will have tremendous success together, and we will solve a big problem, a big dilemma that, until this point, has been unable to be solved. I know that, working together, we will get it taken care of. So it’s a great honor. Thank you very much.

CHAIRMAN KIM: (As interpreted.) (Inaudible.) We overcame all kinds of skepticism and speculations about this summit and I believe that this is good prelude for peace.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I believe, too.

CHAIRMAN KIM: (As interpreted.) (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: We will solve it. We will be successful and I look forward to working on it with you. It will be done.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much.

END

9:56 SGT

President Trump Participates in a 1:1 Meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un

;

-Briefing by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

The White House

;

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan

FOREIGN POLICY: Issued on June 11, 2018: President Donald J. Trump spoke yesterday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. The two leaders discussed recent developments ahead of today’s summit with North Korea and agreed to consult closely following the meeting.

-STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea: FOREIGN POLICY Issued on: June 11, 2018

PRESS BRIEFINGS: President Donald J. Trump spoke yesterday with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea to discuss recent developments ahead of today’s summit with North Korea. The two leaders vowed to continue their close coordination following President Trump’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

DPRK Rodong Sinmun describes positive and successful summit.

If you cannot get Rodong Sinmun website,
on the end of URL address just return again then, you will see the website.

June 11th, 2018 Briefing by Secretary of State Michael Pompeo

The White House

;

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Statement Regarding the Summit Between the United States and North Korea

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 11, 2018

The discussions between the United States and North Korea are ongoing and have moved more quickly than expected.

President Donald J. Trump will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Following the initial greeting, President Trump and Chairman Kim will participate in a one-on-one meeting, with translators only, an expanded bilateral meeting, and a working lunch.

The United States delegation at tomorrow’s expanded bilateral meeting will include Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, Ambassador Sung Kim, and National Security Council Senior Director for Asia Matt Pottinger will join for the working lunch.

At the conclusion of the summit, President Trump will participate in a media availability before departing tomorrow at approximately 8 p.m. for the United States.

end main

----------------

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met US President Donald Trump and his delegation for a working lunch at the Istana in Singapore on Monday. During the meeting, the officials also celebrated Trump's birthday ahead of the summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT TRUMP!!!!

President Trump Delivers a Statement

REMARKS

Press Conference by President Trump After G7 Summit

Issued on: June 9, 2018

The Content

Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu

Charlevoix, Canada

10:13 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. We’re getting ready to make a big trip. We’re just leaving, but we wanted to have a little bit of a conference just to announce what’s happened, how we’ve done. And I think it’s been very, very successful. We’ve concluded a really tremendously successful G7 and would like to provide you with an update.

And you know the gentlemen up are the legendary Larry Kudlow and the legendary John Bolton. And we had a good meeting, both on defense and environment and, frankly, on tariffs, which are what we’re here for.

First, I’d like to thank Prime Minister Trudeau for hosting this summit. It has worked out to be so wonderful. The people of Canada are wonderful, and it’s a great country, and a very beautiful country, I might add.

We tackled a variety of issues and opportunities facing our nations. At the top of the list was the issue of trade — a very important subject — because the United States has been taken advantage of for decades and decades, and we can’t do that anymore.

We had extremely productive discussions on the need to have fair and reciprocal — meaning, the same. People can’t charge us 270 percent and we charge them nothing. That doesn’t work anymore.

I made a lot of statements having to do with clarity. We want and expect other nations to provide fair market access to American exports, and that we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect American industry and workers from unfair foreign trading practices, of which, really, there are many. But we’re getting them straightened out, slowly but surely.

We also discussed the issue of uncontrolled migration and the threat that it poses to both national security and other groups and countries, and our citizens and quality of life. We’re committed to addressing the migration challenge by helping migrants to remain and prosper in their own home countries. A wide array of national security threats were addressed, including the threat of Iran. The G7 nations remain committed to controlling Iran’s nuclear ambitions — with or without them, those ambitions are going to be controlled — along with efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and those who spread this deadly ideology.

The nations of the G7 are bound together by shared values and beliefs. That came out loud and clear. Each of our nations is totally unique with our people and our own sovereign obligations. But we can coordinate together and achieve a common good — a good for all — good for all of our people, all of our nations.

We’re linked in the great effort to create a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world. And from the standpoint of trade and jobs and being fair to companies, we are really, I think, committed. I think they are starting to be committed to a much more fair trade situation for the United States, because it has been treated very, very unfairly.

And I don’t blame other leaders for that. I blame our past leaders. There was no reason that this should have happened. Last year, they lost eight-hundred — we as a nation, over the years — but the latest number is $817 billion on trade. That’s ridiculous and it’s unacceptable. And everybody was told that.

So I don’t blame them; I blame our leaders. In fact, I congratulate the leaders of other countries for so crazily being able to make these trade deals that were so good for their country and so bad for the United States. But those days are over.

In just a few minutes, I’ll be leaving for Singapore. I’ll be on a mission of peace, and we will carry in, really — in my heart, we’re going to be carrying the hearts of millions of people, people from all over the world. We have to get denuclearization. We have to get something going. We really think that North Korea will be a tremendous place in a very short period of time. And we appreciate everything that’s going on. We appreciate the working together with North Korea. They’re really working very well with us.

So I say — so far, so good. We’re going to have to see what happens. And we’re going to know very soon.

So I’ll be leaving — as soon as we’re finished with this conference, I’ll be leaving. And I very much look forward to it. I think it’s very important for North Korea and South Korea and Japan, and the world, and the United States. It’s a great thing. And we’ll see what happens.

Okay. Any questions? Yes, yes.

Q Mr. President, you are about to embark on what may be the most important meeting you’ve ever had in your life. What’s in your gut? Steel nerves or butterflies? Can you describe how you feel?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, there’s always everything. It’s really — you know, this has probably rarely been done. It’s unknown territory, in the truest sense. But I really feel confident. I feel that Kim Jong Un wants to do something great for his people, and he has that opportunity. And he won’t have that opportunity again. It’s never going to be there again.

So I really believe that he’s going to do something very positive for his people, for himself, his family. He’s got an opportunity, the likes of which I think almost — if you look into history — very few people have ever had. He can take that nation, with those great people, and truly make it great. So it’s a one-time — it’s a one-time shot. And I think it’s going to work out very well.

That’s why I feel positive, because it makes so much sense. And we will watch over, and we’ll protect, and we’ll do a lot of things. I can say that South Korea, Japan, China, many countries want to see it happen. And they’ll help. They’ll all help. So there’s a great — there’s really — this is a great time. This has not happened in all of the years that they’ve been separated by a very artificial boundary. This is a great opportunity for peace, and lasting peace, and prosperity.

Yes, ma’am.

Q Mr. President, did you raise bringing Russia back into the G7 during your meetings? And when have you last spoken to Vladimir Putin? Do you expect to meet him in Vienna this summer?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I have not spoken to Vladimir Putin in quite a while. It has been discussed. We didn’t do votes or anything, but it has been discussed. Some people like the idea of bringing Russia back in. This used to be the G8, not the G7. And something happened a while ago, where Russia is no longer in. I think it would be an asset to have Russia back in. I think it would be good for the world. I think it would be good for Russia. I think it would be good for the United States. I think it would be good for all of the countries of the current G7.

I think the G8 would be better. I think having Russia back in would be a positive thing. We’re looking for peace in the world. We’re not looking to play games.

Okay. Question? Yes.

Q Mr. President, you said that this was a positive meeting, but from the outside, it seemed quite contentious. Did you get any indication from your interlocutors that they were going to make any concessions to you? And I believe that you raised the idea of a tariff-free G7. Is that —

THE PRESIDENT: I did. Oh, I did. That’s the way it should be. No tariffs, no barriers. That’s the way it should be.

Q How did it go down?

THE PRESIDENT: And no subsidies. I even said no tariffs. In other words, let’s say Canada — where we have tremendous tariffs — the United States pays tremendous tariffs on dairy. As an example, 270 percent. Nobody knows that. We pay nothing. We don’t want to pay anything. Why should we pay?

We have to — ultimately, that’s what you want. You want a tariff-free, you want no barriers, and you want no subsidies, because you have some cases where countries are subsidizing industries, and that’s not fair. So you go tariff-free, you go barrier-free, you go subsidy-free. That’s the way you learned at the Wharton School of Finance. I mean, that would be the ultimate thing. Now, whether or not that works — but I did suggest it, and people were — I guess, they got to go back to the drawing and check it out, right?

But we can’t have — an example — where we’re paying — the United States is paying 270 percent. Just can’t have it. And when they send things into us, you don’t have that. I will say, it was not contentious. What was strong was the language that this cannot go on. But the relationships are very good, whether it be President Macron or with Justin. We had — Justin did a really good job. I think the relationships were outstanding.

But because of the fact that the United States leaders of the past didn’t do a good job on trade — and again, I’m not blaming countries; I’m blaming our people that represented our past. It’s got to change. It’s going to change. I mean, it’s not a question of “I hope it changes.” It’s going to change, a hundred percent. And tariffs are going to come way down, because people cannot continue to do that. We’re like the piggybank that everybody is robbing. And that ends.

In fact, Larry Kudlow is a great expert on this, and he’s a total free trader. But even Larry has seen the ravages of what they’ve done with their tariffs. Would you like to say something, Larry, very quickly? It might be interesting.

MR. KUDLOW: One interesting point, in terms of the G7 group meeting — I don’t know if they were surprised with President Trump’s free-trade proclamation, but they certainly listened to it and we had lengthy discussions about that. As the President said, reduce these barriers. In fact, go to zero. Zero tariffs. Zero non-tariff barriers. Zero subsidies.

And along the way, we’re going to have to clean up the international trading system about which there was virtual consensus of agreement on that. And that will be a target. And these are the best ways to promote economic growth, and we’ll all be better at it, and we’ll all be stronger at it.

So, I myself was particularly gratified to hear my President talk about free trade. Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

And it’s very unfair to our farmers. Our farmers are, essentially — whether it’s through a barrier, non-monetary barrier, or whether it’s through very high tariffs that make it impossible — and this is all over the world. This isn’t just G7. I mean, we have India, where some of the tariffs are 100 percent. A hundred percent. And we charge nothing. We can’t do that. And so we are talking to many countries. We’re talking to all countries. And it’s going to stop. Or we’ll stop trading with them. And that’s a very profitable answer, if we have to do it.

Yes, sir.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Another question on trade. You just said that you think that the tariffs are actually going to come down, but it does appear that these various countries are moving forward with retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. Did you get any concessions or any agreements with any of these countries not to move forward with those tariffs? And are you willing to not move forward with —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, if they retaliate, they’re making a mistake. Because, you see, we have a tremendous trade imbalance. So when we try and bring our piece up a little bit so that it’s not so bad, and then they go up — right — the difference is they do so much more business with us than we do with them that we can’t lose that. You understand. We can’t lose it.

And as an example, with one country we have $375 billion in trade deficits. We can’t lose. You could make the case that they lost years ago. But when you’re down $375 billion, you can’t lose. And we have to bring them up.

So there’s very bad spirit. When we have a big trade imbalance and we want to bring it up to balance — just balance — and they keep raising it so that you never catch, that’s not a good thing to do. And we have very, very strong measures that take care of that, because we do so much. The numbers are so astronomically against them in terms of anything, as per your question. We win that war a thousand times out of a thousand.

Yes. Yes, sir.

Q Are you close to a deal on NAFTA? Your Press Secretary said (inaudible).

THE PRESIDENT: So two things can happen on NAFTA. We’ll either leave it the way it is, as a threesome deal with Canada and with the United States and Mexico, and change it very substantially — we’re talking about very big changes. Or we’re going to make a deal directly with Canada and directly with Mexico. Both of those things could happen.

If a deal isn’t made, that would be a very bad thing for Canada and it would be a very bad thing for Mexico. For the United States, frankly, it would be a good thing. But I’m not looking to do that. I’m not looking to play that game.

So we’re either going to have NAFTA in a better negotiated form, or we’re going to have two deals.

Q And does it have to have a sunset clause in it?

THE PRESIDENT: It will have a sunset. You have the two sunsets. I mean, you have an ISDS provision and a sunset provision. They’ve been very heavily negotiated. You have two sunsets, two concepts of sunset. We’re pretty close on the sunset provision. Okay?

Q Like five years or —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we have one that’s five years; you know it very well. You’ve studied this very well. Congratulations. That’s right. You have one group that likes to have five years, and then a renegotiation at the end of five years. And you have another group that wants longer because of the investments. But we’re pretty close.

Yes, sir.

Q Mr. President, David Herszenhorn with Politico Europe. Just to come back to Russia for a second. Something that happened that got them kicked out of the G8 was the invasion and annexation of Crimea. Do you think that Crimea should be recognized as Russian (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, you have to ask President Obama, because he was the one that let Crimea get away. That was during his administration. And he was the one that let Russia go and spend a lot of money on Crimea, because they’ve spent a lot of money on rebuilding it. I guess they have their submarine port there and such. But Crimea was let go during the Obama administration. And, you know, Obama can say all he wants, but he allowed Russia to take Crimea. I may have had a much different attitude. So you’d really have to ask that question to President Obama — you know, why did he do that; why did he do that. But with that being said, it’s been done a long time.

Q But you would allow Russia back into the G8 with Crimea still (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: I would rather see Russia in the G8 as opposed to the G7. I would say that the G8 is a more meaningful group than the G7, absolutely.

Yes. Yes, ma’am.

Q How persuasive did you find the Europeans and Canadians when they made the case to you that you shouldn’t use national security as a justification for tariffs?

THE PRESIDENT: They virtually didn’t even make that case. I mean, my case is the fact that it is national security; it’s our balance sheet; it’s our strength. It’s absolutely national security. And, you know, if you look at our — just take a look at our balance sheet. We’re going to have a very strong balance sheet very soon because of what we’re doing.

We have the strongest economy that we’ve ever had in the United States — in the history of the United States. We have the best unemployment numbers. Black unemployment, the lowest in history. Hispanic unemployment, the lowest in history. I don’t mean the lowest in the last 10 years or 20 years. The lowest in the history of this country. Black unemployment is doing the best it’s ever done. Hispanic doing the best. Women are now up to 21 years. Soon it’s going to be the best ever in its history — in the country’s history.

We have to have deals that are fair, and we have to have deals that are economic. Otherwise, that does, in fact, affect our military. Okay?

Q How do you make that case for autos?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, it’s very easy. It’s economic. It’s the balance sheet. To have a great military, you need a great balance sheet.

Yes, sir. Go ahead.

Q As you were heading into these G7 talks, there was a sense that America’s closest allies were frustrated with you and angry with you, and that you were angry with them and that you were leaving here early to go meet for more friendlier talks with Kim Jong Un in Singapore. And I’m wondering if you —

THE PRESIDENT: It’s well put, I think.

Q — if you view it the same way. And do you view the U.S. alliance system shifting under your presidency, away —

THE PRESIDENT: Who are you with, out of curiosity?

Q CNN.

THE PRESIDENT: I figured. Fake News CNN. The worst. But I could tell by the question. I had no idea you were CNN. After the question, I was just curious as to who you were with. You were CNN.

I would say that the level of relationship is a 10. We have a great relationship. Angela and Emmanuel and Justin. I would say the relationship is a 10. And I don’t blame them. I blame — as I said, I blame our past leaders for allowing this to happen. There was no reason this should happen. There’s no reason that we should have big trade deficits with virtually every country in the world. I’m going long beyond the G7. There’s no reason for this. It’s the fault of the people that preceded me. And I’m not just saying President Obama. I’m going back a long way. You can go back 50 years, frankly. It just got worse and worse and worse.

You know, we used to be a nation that was unbelievably cash-flow-oriented. Had no debt of any consequence, and that built the highway system. We built the interstate system out of — virtually out of cash flow. And it was a lot different.

No, we have a very good relationship, and I don’t blame these people, but I will blame them if they don’t act smart and do what they have to do — because they have no choice. I’ll be honest with you, they have no choice.

They’re either going to make the trades fair, because our farmers have been hurt. You look at our farmers. For 15 years, the graph is going just like this — down. Our farmers have been hurt, our workers have been hurt. Our companies have moved out and moved to Mexico and other countries, including Canada.

Now, we are going to fix that situation. And if it’s not fixed, we’re not going to deal with these countries. But the relationship that I’ve had is great. So you can tell that to your fake friends at CNN.

The relationship that I’ve had with the people, the leaders of these countries, has been — I would really, rate it on a scale of 0 to 10, I would rate it a 10. That doesn’t mean I agree with what they’re doing. And they know very well that I don’t. So we’re negotiating very hard, tariffs and barriers.

As an example, the European Union is brutal to the United States. They don’t — and they understand that. They know it. When I’m telling them, they’re smiling at me. You know, it’s like the gig is up. It’s like the gig is up. They’re not trying to — there’s nothing they can say. They can’t believe they got away with it. Canada can’t believe it got away with it. Mexico — we have $100 billion trade deficit with Mexico and that doesn’t include all the drugs that are pouring in because we have no wall. But we are. We started building the wall, as you know. $1.6 billion — and we’re going to keep that going.

But a lot of these countries actually smile at me when I’m talking. And the smile is — we couldn’t believe we got away with it. That’s the smile. So it’s going to change. It’s going to change. They have no choice. If it’s not going to change, we’re not going to trade with them.

Okay, how about a couple of more? Go ahead in the back.

Q Thanks, Mr. President. Eliana Johnson with Politico.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Hi.

Q Going into these talks with Kim Jong Un, do you have a clear objective of what you want to get out of them?

THE PRESIDENT: I have a clear objective. But I have to say, Eliana, that it’s going to be something that will always be spur of the moment. You don’t know. You know, this has not been done before at this level. This is a leader who really is an unknown personality. People don’t know much about him. I think that he’s going to surprise, on the upside, very much on the upside. We’ll see. But never been done. Never been tested. Many people — world leaders — I’m talking about world leaders that have been right next to him have never met him.

So we’re going in with a very positive spirit. I think very well prepared. I think — and, by the way, we have worked very well with their people. They have many people right now in Shanghai; our people have been — in Singapore. Our people have been working very, very well with the representatives of North Korea.

So we’re going in with a very positive attitude, and I think we’re going to come out fine. But I’ve said it many times: Who knows? Who knows? May not. May not work out. It’s a good chance it won’t work out. There’s probably an even better chance that it will take a period of time. It will be a process.

Q Is there a particular outcome that you would look for from this initial talk to judge whether you think things are going well?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the minimum would be relationship. You’d start at least a dialogue. Because, you know, as a deal person, I’ve done very well with deals. What you want to do is start that. Now, I’d like to accomplish more than that. But at a minimum, I do believe, at least we’ll have met each other. We will have seen each other. Hopefully we will have liked each other and we’ll start that process.

So I would say that would be the minimal. And the maximum, I think you know the answer to that. But I think that will take a little bit of time.

Okay? Yeah.

Q How long do you think that it will take you to figure out whether he’s serious about (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: That’s a good question. How long will it take? I think within the first minute I’ll know.

Q How?

THE PRESIDENT: Just my touch, my feel. That’s what I do. How long will it take to figure out whether or not they’re serious? I said maybe in the first minute. You know, the way — they say that you know if you’re going to like somebody in the first five seconds. You ever hear that one? Well, I think that very quickly I’ll know whether or not something good is going to happen.

I also think I’ll know whether or not it will happen fast. It may not. But I think I’ll know pretty quickly whether or not, in my opinion, something positive will happen. And if I think it won’t happen, I’m not going to waste my time. I don’t want to waste his time.

Yes, ma’am.

Q Are you concerned about all that just like giving Kim the meeting, that he’s getting a win as a (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: No, no, no, no. That’s only — only the fake news says that. You know, this — look, we just three hostages back. We paid nothing. They came back. They’re happily in ensconced in their homes with their families. They’re the happiest people in the world right now.

We have gotten — you know, we haven’t done anything. Everyone said — you know, the haters, they say, “Oh, you’re giving him a meeting.” Give me a break, okay? There’s nothing. I think if I didn’t do this, it would be — and it’s never been done before, you know. It’s never been done before. And obviously, what has been done before hasn’t worked.

And this is something — I can’t stress this strong enough. You know, I talked about tariffs that previous people — and I’m not looking to criticize people that were preceding me — but on tariffs, it should have never happened.

Well, the same thing on North Korea. We shouldn’t be in this position. We shouldn’t be in this position on tariffs. We were hundreds of billions of dollars down to other countries that, frankly, were never even negotiated with. They never even got spoken to.

I asked a top person in China, how did it get so bad? He looked at me, he said, “Nobody ever talked to us.” They were missing in action, our leaders.

Well, a very similar thing, if you think about it, took place with North Korea. This should not be done now. This should have been done 5 years ago, and 10 years ago, and 25 years ago. It shouldn’t be done now.

Q Have you spoken to Kim at all in the last —

THE PRESIDENT: I can’t comment on that.

Okay, one more question.

Q A follow-up on North Korea. Will you raise of the gulags with Kim Jong Un and —

THE PRESIDENT: We’re going to raise every issue.

Q — and the (inaudible) and kidnappings?

THE PRESIDENT: Every issue is going to be raised.

Q Mr. President, we’re sitting here, and kind of you’ve attacked the U.S. press back home, but you’ve also done it on foreign soil. I guess I want — I’d like to ask you why you do that. Do you think —

THE PRESIDENT: Because the U.S. press is very dishonest, much of it. Not all of it. Oh, I have some folks in your profession that are with the U.S., in the U.S. — citizens, proud citizens; they’re reporters. These are some of the most outstanding people I know. But there are many people in the press that are unbelievably dishonest. They don’t cover stories the way they’re supposed to be. They don’t even report them, in many cases, if they’re positive.

So there’s tremendous — you know, I came up with the term, “fake news.” It’s a lot of fake news. But at the same time, I have great respect for many people in the press.

Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.

END

10:39 A.M. EDT

Remarks by President Trump and
Prime Minister Abe of Japan in Joint Press Conference

FOREIGN POLICY

The Content

Issued on: June 7, 2018

Rose Garden

2:22 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. Today I’m greatly honored to welcome my good friend, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, to the White House. Over the past 16 months, the Prime Minister and I have worked closely together to address common challenges, of which there are many; seize opportunities; and advance the interests of our nations. Today, we have had another deeply productive and very valuable discussion.

We have developed not only a strong working relationship over the last year and a half, specifically 503 days, but a great personal friendship. I was honored by the tremendous hospitality the Prime Minister showed me when the American delegation went to Japan last year. It was really something very special. And we had the Prime Minister and Mrs. Abe as our guest at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.

The steadfast alliance between Japan and the United States is an enduring force of peace and stability in the Pacific region and around the world. From the beginning of my administration, the Prime Minister and I have been working to expand our cooperation in a range of areas, including defense and commerce, which is what we discussed today.

As I prepare to meet next week with Kim Jong Un — and I want to bring up the fact that the Prime Minister Abe and, also, President Moon of South Korea were extremely helpful, cooperative, and they’d like to see something happen. It would be great for North Korea, South Korea. It would be great for Japan, the United States, and the world. Our partnership has been invaluable in reaching this important moment, and we will continue to be in very close communication in the weeks ahead, including the issue of Japanese abductees, which I know is of great personal importance to Prime Minister Abe.

I hope the upcoming meeting in Singapore represents the beginning of a bright new future for North Korea and indeed a bright new future for the world. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would usher in a new era of prosperity, security, and peace for all Koreans — for North and South — and for people everywhere.

Prime Minister Abe and I are also working to improve the trading relationship between the United States and Japan — something we have to do. The United States seeks a bilateral deal with Japan that is based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity. We’re working hard to reduce our trade imbalance, which is very substantial, remove barriers to U.S. exports, and to achieve a fair and mutually beneficial economic partnership. And we’re on our way.

The Prime Minister was telling us just moments ago that they’re buying billions and billions of dollars of additional products of all kinds — military jets, airliners from Boeing, lots of farm products. We’re going to be doing a lot more business with Japan, which is what everybody wants to see.

There’s never been a better time to invest in the United States. Thanks to our massive tax cuts, historic deregulation,

a strong trade policy, which has just really begun — because I will tell you over the years it has been an extraordinarily weak trade policy — the opening of American energy, and a return to the rule of law, our economy is absolutely booming. Best it’s ever been. Unemployment is at the lowest level in nearly half a century. And for African American and Hispanic American workers, unemployment has reached its lowest level ever recorded.

We welcome and encourage Japanese investors to open new plants and factories in the United States. And that will happen. The Prime Minister has told me that will happen. We want new auto plants going into Michigan and Pennsylvania and Ohio — and many of our states that have them and some that don’t. And they’ll be doing that.

Japan has also remained a critical partner in our efforts to promote a free and open Pacific region where sovereign nations uphold the rule of law, respect the rights of their neighbors, and honor the interests of their people. These core principles allow diverse nations to thrive and prosper altogether in one beautiful, peaceful atmosphere. We’re all happy about it. It’s what’s happening now.

Prime Minister Abe, it is a true privilege to work with you. You’ve become my great friend. I want to thank you for being here at the White House for our meetings today. So productive. I’m also very proud to say that the bonds between our nations are stronger than ever before. And I know that, together, we can unlock incredible new opportunities, achieve remarkable new prosperity, and ensure the safety and security of our citizens for a very, very long time to come. And that’s what we intend to do.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you.

PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Mr. President, I am so grateful to you for this meeting that you offered with great hospitality at such busy time as G7 Summit and U.S.-North Korea summit meetings are upcoming. I also would like to express my appreciation to the people of the United States for always warmly welcoming us as your ally.

In five days, U.S.-North Korea summit is to take place. First of all, I would like to pay my deep respect to the outstanding leadership of President Trump as he made this decision that no past Presidents were ever able to accomplish.

In the last 18 months, we really spent many hours to discuss this issue. We shall never repeat the past mistakes. While this thought is completely shared between us, we are able to witness an historic talk which will take place shortly.

Today, with President Trump, our discussion was focused on the issue of North Korea. What should we do as we approach the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit, as well as for the peace and stability of Northeast Asia after the summit? On this topic, we took a good amount of time and carried out in-depth and candid exchange of views. I’m not able to talk about the details of what we discussed, but one thing I can say is that Japan and the United States are always together. I strongly hope that this historic summit in Singapore be a resounding success.

There is a beautiful port town, Niigata, facing the Sea of Japan. A mere 13-year-old girl living there was abducted by North Korea. Forty-five years have passed since then, during which time family members single-mindedly prayed for her return and kept on waiting. The parents became old. Remaining time is slipping away. It is the long-held desire of the Japanese people to have her and all of the abductees come home so that the parents, while they are healthy, can embrace the girl and other abductees again in their arms.

Of course, I wish to directly face North Korea and talk with them so that abduction problem be resolved quickly. To this end, I am determined to take all possible means.

On behalf of the citizens of Japan, I would like to thank President Trump and the people of the United States for their understanding and support toward the resolution of the abduction issue.

Japan will continue to ask for complete implementation of the successive United Nations Security Council resolutions. There is no change at all for Japan’s policy to seek comprehensive solution of the abduction, nuclear and missile programs, and to realize real peace in the Northeast Asia. This is what Japan strongly hopes for.

Now, a major step forward is about to be taken. Donald, President Trump, you are about to make a new history. Not only Japan, but the whole international community is strongly looking forward for the United States-North Korea summit to open doors toward peace and stability of the Northeast Asia.

North Korea abounds with rich natural resources. North Korea has a diligent workforce. If North Korea is willing to take steps toward the right direction, North Korea can see a bright future ahead for itself. Japan, based on the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, is prepared to settle the unfortunate past, to normalize our diplomatic relations, and to provide economic cooperation. Japan wishes to play the role as much as possible. Donald, I value highly your strong commitment to world peace and prosperity.

In closing, I wish to add that Japan stands ready to make every effort to assist you for the success of U.S.-North Korea summit. Thank you.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Appreciate it. So we’ll take a few questions, if we can start.

John Roberts, go ahead.

Q Mr. President, on the subject — and I have a question for the Prime Minister as well. On the subject of North Korea, how far are you willing to go, in terms of economic security, political guarantees with Kim? Are you willing to move down the road toward normalizing relationships, normalizing relations with North Korea, as the Prime Minister suggested he was willing to at some point?

You teased us, as well, out on the South Lawn here last week. You said that you might sign a peace deal to end the war. Where are you with that? And what was in the letter?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, the letter was just a greeting. It was really very nice. Perhaps I can get approval to put it out. It was really a very warm letter, a very nice letter. I appreciated it very much. And nothing other than: We look forward to seeing you, and we look forward to the summit, and hopefully some wonderful things will work out.

So it was really very warm, very nice. We appreciated it.

I think, John, that we are going to — we’re going to have a great success. I don’t think it will be in one meeting. I think it will take longer than that. This has been going on for many, many decades.

This is something that should have been solved by other Presidents, as I’ve said often before, long before this point. They waited until the last second. And they shouldn’t have waited. This should have been solved by many others. I’m not just saying President Obama; I’m saying other Presidents. A long time ago, this could have been solved in a lot easier manner and a lot less dangerous manner. But it wasn’t. So I’ll solve it, and we’ll get it done.

As far as the Prime Minister is concerned, we will agree and we have agreed that we’re going to be helping — if the deal is done, we’re going to be helping North Korea. We’re going to be working with China. We’re going to be working with South Korea.

President Xi of China has been terrific. The border has been certainly more closed than ever before. I’d like them to close it a little bit more, but it’s been more closed than ever before. China has never worked with us this way. And, you know, I give him a lot of credit because, as you know, we’re in a dispute as to the imbalance of trade. It’s a massive imbalance in China’s favor. It’s been that way for many decades, and it should have also been handled by previous Presidents. But it wasn’t, so we’ll handle that too.

But I give President Xi tremendous credit, and I give President Moon tremendous credit. He really would like to see something happen. They’ve been living with the threat of war from their beginning, and it doesn’t make sense. And I really believe that Kim Jong Un wants to do something. I think he wants to see something incredible happen for the people of North Korea.

So we have a lot of great opportunities right now. Shouldn’t have waited to this point, but we have a lot of great opportunity.

John, please.

Q Again, Mr. President, would you be willing to go so far as to normalize relations with North Korea? And what about the idea of signing some sort of an agreement on the 12th to end the war?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, it could be. We could sign an agreement. As you know, that would be a first step. It’s what happens after the agreement that really is the big point.

But, yes, we could absolutely sign an agreement. We’re looking at it. We’re talking about it with them. We’re talking about it with a lot of other people. But that could happen. But that’s really the beginning. Sounds a little bit strange, but that’s probably the easy part; the hard part remains after that.

Q And normalizing relations?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Normalizing relations is something that I would expect to do, I would hope to do, when everything is complete. We would certainly hope to do that.

I know that Prime Minister Abe and President Moon have told me, very strongly, that they are going to go and they will help them economically, tremendously. Japan has a tremendous stake and so do they. We, on the other hand, are very far away. We’re very, very far away.

But Japan will be helping. I believe China will be helping economically, also. And I think China wants to see something very good happen, very positive happen. And certainly, South Korea has already stated their intentions. They will be very helpful.

So there are lot of good factors lined up for North Korea. A lot of tremendous factors that give it tremendous potential. It has tremendous potential because the people are great. And we would certainly like to see normalization, yes.

Q And, Prime Minister Abe, if I could address you as well. We know how important an issue the abductees is for you. President Trump said at Mar-a-Lago during your last meeting that it’s a very important issue for him as well. We know about the medium-range ballistic missiles. Did you get an assurance from President Trump that he would address both of those in his first meeting with Kim?

PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Today, we had long hours of discussion with President Trump. Good amount of discussion. On the issue of abduction, I was able to have a detailed discussion, and I think President Trump fully understands the situation. He supports the position of Japan.

Last year, President Trump visited Japan. On that occasion, he met with the families of abductees. I told you about the 13-year-old girl abducted. The mother of this girl met with President Trump, and very seriously he intently listened to the voices and views of the family members. So President Trump, amongst the world leaders, I think he is one of the leaders who understands the issue the most — greatest.

So at the upcoming summit, the importance of abduction would be explained to Mr. Kim Jong Un.

What about the medium-range missiles? As I said earlier on in my statement, the Security Council’s resolution must be implemented. All weapons of mass destruction and all ballistic missiles — these are the words used in the resolution of the Security Council. In other words, the Security Council resolution must be completely implemented. On this point, between Japan and U.S. and international community share the same view. I am convinced about it. Thank you.

Mr. Katsumi of TBS, please. Next question, please.

Q (As interpreted.) Thank you. My name is Yusa from TBS Television. I have question for both President Trump, as well as Prime Minister Abe. You have not used the language of applying the largest pressure on North Korea, but are you continuing with a deal with the sanction? And the denuclearization, you will be asking for that? And what is the deadline for the denuclearization?

And my question to Prime Minister is how to apply pressure to North Korea and the tone of the language. Are you in full agreement, complete agreement with the United States?

PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) President Trump has stated that we are implementing sanctions, and those sanctions are very strong sanctions. He also stated that until North Korea takes the action, the sanctions will not be lifted. And Japan is in full agreement and Japan’s position is perfectly in alignment with the United States.

And in our summit meeting this time, we had in-depth discussion with President Trump as to how we should respond to the North Korea and ask for the future policy on North Korea.

Inclusive of the U.S.-North Korean summit meeting, we have detailed coordination aligning our positions. As I have already mentioned, Japan and the United States are always together. Japan and United States will be in full alignment to seek success for the historic U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Singapore.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes. Thank you very much. Maximum pressure is absolutely in effect. We don’t use the term anymore because we’re going into a friendly negotiation. Perhaps after that negotiation I will be using it again. You’ll know how well we do in the negotiation. If you hear me saying we’re going to use “maximum pressure,” you’ll know the negotiation did not do well, frankly. There’s no reason to say it.

We, in the meantime, haven’t removed any sanctions. We have a list of over 300 massive, in some cases, sanctions to put on North Korea. And I’ve decided to hold that until we can make a deal, because I really believe there’s a potential to make a deal. And I just don’t think it’s nice going in under those circumstances.

But, yes, the campaign hasn’t changed. China has continued to hold the border. We, again, would like them to do more in that sense. But they’ve been really good, and the President has been very good. But maximum sanction is there. We are leaving all of the existing sanctions on. We have many, many sanctions to go, but I don’t want to use them unless it’s necessary. And I don’t think it will be necessary, but we will soon know. Okay? Thank you.

Saagar Enjeti. Where’s Saagar? Daily Caller.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I have a question for the Prime Minister as well. Mr. President, under what — you’ve said repeatedly that you are willing to walk away from the negotiations if they don’t do well. Under what exact conditions would you be walking away from that summit? And if the summit does go well, will you be inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the United States?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, the answer is yes to the second part of your question. But certainly if it goes well. And I think it would be well received. I think he would look at it very favorably. So I think that could happen.

All I can say is I am totally prepared to walk away. I did it once before. You have to be able to walk away. If you’re not going to be able to walk away — we didn’t walk away from the horrible Iran deal that was signed. And if you look at what’s happened since I signed that deal, Iran — and in all fairness, I say it with great respect for the people of Iran — but Iran is acting a lot differently. They’re no longer looking so much to the Mediterranean. They’re no longer looking so much to what’s going on in Syria, what’s going on in Yemen and lots of other places. They’re a much different country over the last three months.

And again, I say that with hope that maybe something can happen. But when you mention sanctions, we’re putting sanctions on Iran, the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, including, frankly, North Korea. That would have been the next phase, if we did it or find it necessary to do.

But nuclear to me is always first. And we’re going to be fine, with respect to Iran. But we also, Saagar, got something out of it that’s very important. A lot of the people that write about this, some of whom I have respect for, but they haven’t picked it up: Iran is not the same country that it was a few months ago. They’re a much, much different group of leaders. And I hope at some point they’ll come to us and we’ll sit down, and we’ll make a deal that’s good for them, and good for us, and good for everybody. And it will be great for Iran. I expect it to be — I want it to be great for Iran.

But if they would have walked — our side — from some of the horrible provisions that you know as well as I do, and probably everybody sitting here knows, we could have had a great deal. Nothing wrong with a deal, but there’s something wrong with that deal. We had a great opportunity to make a phenomenal deal.

So I am totally prepared to walk. It could happen. Maybe it won’t be necessary. I hope it won’t be necessary to walk because I really believe that Kim Jong Un wants to do something that is going to be great for his people and also great for his family and great for himself.

Okay? Thank you very much.

Q Sir, if you do invite him to the White House — or to the United States, would it be here at the White House or at Mar-a-Lago?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Maybe we’ll start with the White House. What do you think? (Laughter.)

Q Mr. Prime Minister, you are the only major world leader not to have a sit-down or a planned sit-down with Kim Jong Un. You hinted in your address today that you would be willing to do so on the matter of abductees. Do you have any plans currently to do so? And would it be focused solely on abductees, or would you be willing to have a separate denuclearization discussion with Kim Jong Un directly without the United States? Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Of course, on the issue of abduction, we have to resolve this problem. With Abe administration, this is of the highest priority. And if anything contributes to that resolution, if the talk leads to the solution of the problem between U.S. and North Korea or between Japan and North Korea, the meetings we wish to have on the issue of abduction in the final analysis Chairman Kim Jong Un and me, between Japan and North Korea, problem has to be solved. Of course, for Japan, missile issue and nuclear issue very important.

Nuclear issue, missile issue, regarding these issues, at the U.S. and North Korea summit meeting — first and foremost, I’m hopeful for the progress. And then, on the issue of abduction, we will liaise — we will collaborate with the U.S. and international community. And Japan, ourselves, must talk directly with North Korea in the final analysis. I am determined about that.

Mr. Hayashi?

Q (As interpreted.) Thank you, Prime Minister Abe. I have question to Prime Minister as well as President Trump. Starting with Prime Minister, you have already mentioned to a certain degree on the abduction issue. In order to hold Japan-North Korea summit, the premise is that you need to obtain results for the abduction issue. What kind of concrete pathway are you envisaging to hold the summit meeting?

In your meeting with President Trump today, have you asked President Trump to raise the question of abduction at the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Singapore?

Next is my question to President Trump. You have — Kim Jong Un has maintained this position that the abduction issue is something that already had been resolved. So what kind of explanation has been given to the United States on the abduction issue in the North Korea to U.S. via consultations? And how should we approach North Korea in order to seek solution for the abduction? And what did you convey to Prime Minister Abe today in this regard?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: You know, I can speak first because I will tell you, on the Prime Minister’s behalf, that he very much talked about abduction. It was preeminent in our conversations. He talked about it long and hard and passionately. And I will follow his wishes, and we will be discussion that with North Korea, absolutely. Absolutely.

Prime Minister, go ahead.

PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Now, at our Japan-U.S. meeting we had in Mar-a-Lago in February, today, once again, as President Trump has mentioned already, I have explained on the abduction issue once again and I have conveyed to him the earnest wish of the families of the abductees. And President Trump once again has stated that the abduction issue will be raised at the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit.

Now, at the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting, as to the concrete matters to be discussed, I would like to refrain from mentioning this at this juncture. But in any case, Japan’s (inaudible) position were explained at length, and President Trump has given his understanding, and he has promised that the issue will be brought up at the summit meeting in Singapore. And I am delighted of this.

President Trump and the international community — I would like to closely work with President Trump as well as the international community to seek solution to the issue. In solving the abduction issue, Japan itself needs to have direct consultation with North Korea. I have not changed my resolve in doing so.

And under this decision and resolve, what will be conducive to solve the abduction issue — of course, I will have to think about the summit meeting for Japan-North Korea summit meeting. If we are to have the summit meeting, the nuclear, the missile, and what is more important, the abduction issue — the solution to all these issues must be resolved. And I hope that we will be able to realize a summit meeting which would lead to solution of the problems.

But first and foremost, we need to seek advancement for the abduction, nuclear, and missile programs. Japan and U.S. should closely cooperate with each other so that we will be able to see great success for the historic U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. And Japan would like to give our all-out efforts in support.

Thank you.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I’d like to just close by paying my highest respect and regards and love, frankly — I’ve gotten to know them very well — to the Warmbier family, the incredible family of Otto Warmbier, who was a brilliant, beautiful, terrific young man. And he has not died in vain, I can tell you that. He has not died in vain. So to the Warmbier family, our love and our respect.

Also, I’d like to say that we were tremendously successful in getting our three hostages back. And I’m very thankful to the cooperation that we received from North Korea. And the three United States citizens are now very happily ensconced in their homes with their families. They’re very happy. They didn’t think this was going to happen. And frankly, it would never have happened, but it has.

So I just want to wish them well also. They had a tough journey, but I really respect the fact that we were able to work with the North Korean folks and get them out. They’re very, very well ingrained already. They’re back into — they were telling me they’re now going to movies and they’re going out to dinner, and they’re back. They’re back in our country, and it’s a terrific thing.

I believe we’re going to have a terrific success or a modified success. But in one form or another, if it all goes — and things can happen between now and then — but I know many of you are going. And I look forward to seeing you there. I look forward to traveling with you. It’s a long way. But I really believe that we have the potential to do something incredible for the world. And it’s my honor to be involved.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

END

2:54 P.M. EDT

PRESS BRIEFINGS

Press Briefing by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

Issued on: June 7, 2018

The Content

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

3:49 P.M. EDT

SANDERS: Good afternoon. Thanks for being patient with us. Obviously, there’s a great deal of interest on the upcoming summit with the North Koreans. We have Secretary Pompeo here, who will make some brief opening remarks and then take questions on that topic. As you know, the President has already done a press conference today, so we’ll keep questions limited to that. And we’ll be around the rest of the day to answer other news of the day.

Thanks. With that, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thanks, Sarah.

Q Sarah, are you going to take questions after (inaudible)?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes, I’m going to take a couple questions. (Laughter.) A couple. Good afternoon. It’s great to be joining you all here today. Early in his presidency, President Trump made a commitment to address the threat of North Korea, which has been a threat to our nation for far too long.

President Trump has been, and continues to be, committed to ridding the United States and the world of threats posed by North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. These programs threaten our homeland, our allies and partners, and the broader non-proliferation regime. North Korea’s past activities also make clear that it is proliferation to other actors that creates a risk, in addition to the primary risks. It has supporting infrastructure that is also of concern.

In early 2017, the Trump administration decided on a policy we have referred to as the “maximum pressure campaign.” The campaign enacted the strongest economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea in history. The goal was to set the conditions for the DPRK to make a strategic decision to denuclearize as the best means by which it will achieve its own security.

American leadership rallied the international community to send a strong message to Chairman Kim Jong Un and the world that we would not stand for the DPRK’s illegal weapons programs. The President’s bold decision to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un grew from this incredibly strong and targeted campaign. The President’s policy directly led to the historic summit that will take place on June 12th in Singapore.

Back on March 8th, Chairman Kim Jong Un expressed his desire to meet with President Trump as soon as possible. And then on May 9th, I met with Chairman Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang and explained America’s expectations for denuclearization.

At that time, we also secured the release of three Americans: Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim, and Kim Hak-song. We view this as a sign of goodwill from Chairman Kim Jong Un.

The United States and North Korea have been holding direct talks in preparation for a summit, and North Korea has confirmed to us its willingness to denuclearize. A comprehensive whole-of-government effort in support of President Trump’s upcoming summit is under way. White House- and State Department-led advance teams are finalizing logistical preparations and will remain in place in Singapore until the summit begins. The President continues to follow every development closely, and is getting daily briefings from his national security team.

The fact that our two leaders are coming to the table shows that the two sides are very serious. The diplomatic model we’ve used to date is different from past efforts. Our efforts give us hope that we can find real success where past efforts have fallen short.

President Trump is hopeful, but he’s also going into the summit with his eyes wide open. We’ve seen how many inadequate agreements have been struck in the past. And you can be sure that President Trump will not stand for a bad deal. The United States has been clear, time and time again, that complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the only outcome that we will find acceptable.

The President recognizes that North Korea has great potential, and he looks forward to a day when sanctions on the DPRK can begin to be removed. However, that cannot happen until the DPRK completely and verifiably eliminates its weapons of mass destruction programs.

President Trump and Chairman Kim will certainly also discuss security assurances for the DPRK, establishing a peace regime, and improving relations between our two countries. Until we achieve our goals, the measures that the world, alongside the United States, has put on the regime will remain. In the event diplomacy does not move in the right direction, these measures will increase. Throughout the entire process, the United States has been unified with Japan and South Korea in response to the threats from North Korea.

I will be traveling with my — excuse me, I will be traveling to meet with my Japanese and South Korean counterparts after the summit to continue to coordinate with them. I will also stop in Beijing following the Singapore summit. I’ll provide them with an update and underscore the importance of fully implementing all sanctions that are imposed on North Korea.

President Trump recognizes North Korea’s desire for security and is prepared to ensure a DPRK free of its weapons of mass destruction is also a secure North Korea.

President Trump has made it clear that if Kim Jong Un denuclearizes, there is a brighter path for North Korea and its people. We envision a strong, connected, secure, and prosperous North Korea that is integrated into the community of nations. We think that the people of the United States and North Korea can create a future defined by friendship and collaboration, and not by mistrust and fear.

We believe that Chairman Kim Jong Un shares this positive vision for the future, and we are committed to finding a path forward. And we assume and hope that that belief is sincere.

We’re looking forward to being in Singapore in just a few days.

SANDERS: As a reminder, we’ll take just a few questions before the Secretary has to depart.

Roberta.

Q Thank you. What progress have you made in narrowing the gap in your understanding of denuclearization and North Korea’s definition of denuclearization? Has there been progress in bringing that definition closer together?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yes.

Q Can you describe that a little bit?

SECRETARY POMPEO: No.

(Laughter.)

SANDERS: That was quick. Jon Decker.

Q Thank you, Sarah. Thank you, Secretary Pompeo. As you mentioned in your remarks, North Korea, in the past, has reneged on prior agreements that it’s made with the U.S. government. So I have two questions for you. The first question has to do with your experience meeting with Kim Jong Un. Do you trust him? And my second question has to do with the negotiations that are upcoming with North Korea. Who, in your opinion, has the upper hand in the negotiations, and why?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So with respect to your first question, I’ve had the chance to meet with Chairman Kim Jong Un twice now. I can tell you he is very capable of articulating the things that he is prepared to do, present clearly the challenges that we all have to overcome. It’s why the two leaders are meeting. It’s the opportunity to lay those out clearly between the two leaders so that we can see if we can find a path forward together that achieves the outcomes that both countries want.

And your second question?

Q Who has the upper hand in the negotiations?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. We don’t think about it in terms of who has the upper hand. We know this has been a long, intractable challenge. It’s gone on for decades. The President has said repeatedly: Previous administrations weren’t prepared to do what we’ve done already. It’s not about who has the upper hand. It’s about trying to find a way where the two sides can come to an understanding, where we can get concrete steps, not just words, that resolve this challenge.

Pamela.

Q Mr. Secretary, first of all, the President said that he doesn’t believe he needs to prepare very much ahead of this summit. Do you think that’s a prudent approach?

And also, I want to get your reaction to Rudy Giuliani’s comments that “Kim Jong Un got back on his hands and knees and begged” for the summit to go back on — whether you think he should be weighing in on these international affairs and whether you agree with that assessment.

SECRETARY POMPEO: So back to your second question. I took him as it being a small room and not being serious about the comments. I think it was a bit in jest, and —

Q Do you think it could jeopardize the summit or —

SECRETARY POMPEO: We’re moving forward. We’re focused on the important things. I know Rudy. Rudy doesn’t speak for the administration when it comes to this negotiation and this set of issues.

With respect to your first question, you know, progress — we’re making progress, inch by inch. And we’re going to travel there. This is different. The approach that President Trump is taking is fundamentally different. In the past, there have been months and months of detailed negotiations, and it got nowhere. This has already driven us to a place we’ve not been able to achieve before.

SANDERS: Dave Boyer.

Q Thank you, Mr. Secretary. The President said today that if the Singapore meeting goes well, he’d like to bring Kim Jong Un to Washington, possibly, for further meetings. Has Kim Jong Un invited the President to come to North Korea?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So I don’t want to talk to you about the conversations that have been had between the North Korean side and the United States. I’ll leave that for the President to talk to.

But I do want to get to — and this comes back to the other question that you asked about the President’s preparation. So in my previous role — and I’ve said this before; you can look it up — there were few days that I left the Oval Office after having briefed the President that we didn’t talk about North Korea. So over months and months, days and days, President Trump has been receiving briefings on this issue about the military aspects of it; the commercial, economic aspects of it; the history of the relationship. And in the past few months, there have been near-daily briefings, including today, where we have been providing the President all the information that he needs. And I am very confident that the President will be fully prepared when he meets with his North Korean counterpart.

Q Just having met the man twice now, what can you tell us about what opinions you’ve formed of Kim Jong Un as a person?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. So I haven’t spent that much time with him. What I have said publicly is he has indicated to me, personally, that he is prepared to denuclearize; that he understands that the current model doesn’t work, that he’s prepared to denuclearize.

And that, too, he understands that we can’t do it the way we’ve done it before — that this has to be big and bold, and we have to agree to making major changes. We can’t step through this over years, but rather need to acknowledge it will take some amount of time, that this doesn’t happen instantaneously. But that the model for succeeding — security assurance; and political normalization; and denuclearization completely, verifiably, and irreversibly — for that to take place, we’ve got to make bold decisions.

And I’m hopeful that Chairman Kim Jong Un is prepared to make that decision for his country. A big shift in his strategic understanding of his security.

SANDERS: Ayesha.

Q Thank you. So you said that you — that the President is prepared to talk about security guarantees for North Korea. We have seen in this administration that you can — that when new administrations come in, they can undo things that prior administrations have done. How can President Trump guarantee long-term security for North Korea and for Kim, in particular?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, look, we’re going to have to do things that convince Chairman Kim that that’s the case. All right? That’s what we’ll have to do.

So let me give you an example. We are hopeful that we will put ourselves in a position where we can do something the previous administration didn’t do. Right? They signed a flimsy piece of paper, and we’re hoping to submit a document that Congress would also have a say in — that would give currency and strength and elongation to the process, so that when administrations do change, as they inevitably do, and this one will — six and half years from now — when that takes place, that Chairman Kim will have comfort that American policy will continue down the same path, on the course that we hope we’re able to set in Singapore.

SANDERS: We’ll take one last question. Zeke.

Q Thank you, Mr. Secretary. At the top of your remarks — first, to follow up briefly on your comments just about Asia. When you say a “document” that Congress would sign off on, are you referring to a treaty?

Then second, at the top of your remarks, you said that there’s also this threat to the United States and its allies from the North Koreans’ WMDs, as well as ballistic missiles. Is that a condition for the President in any negotiation agreement with Chairman Kim, that its ballistic missile program and chemical weapons also be part of that?

And third, finally, can you discuss the format of the meeting between the President and Chairman Kim? What will it look like? Who will be there?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So I’ll leave it to the White House to talk about the format of the meetings when the time is right.

With respect to proliferation risk, it’s very real. There is a history of that, with respect to North Korea and some of our other difficult challenges in the world today. They are connected. The reason you want complete, verifiable, and irreversible is precisely that. To the extent there remain stockpiles, knowledge bases, warehouses, systems, infrastructure, fissile material production facilities — I could go on — to the extent those remain, the risk of proliferation continues. And it’s our aim, through the CVID process and providing the security assurances that Chairman Kim will want, that we can greatly reduce the risk that proliferation ever happens as a result of North Korean actions.

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with
Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 4, 2018

President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. The two leaders discussed the upcoming summit between the United States and North Korea in Singapore. President Trump also called for a new and comprehensive deal that addresses all aspects of Iran’s destabilizing behavior, including in Yemen and Syria. The President further underscored the need to rebalance trade with Europe and expressed hope for a Brexit deal that does not increase tensions on the Northern Ireland border. Both leaders discussed their goals for the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada, and look forward to the President’s visit to the United Kingdom in July.

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders

Issued on: June 4, 2018

On North Korea, we are actively preparing for the June 12 summit between the President and the North Korean leader. The advance team in Singapore is finalizing logistical preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins.

In the DMZ, the U.S. Ambassador’s delegation continues diplomatic negotiations with the North Korean delegation. Discussions have been very positive, and significant progress has been made.

Q Sarah, what was the contents of Kim Jong Un’s letter to the President that he received last week? And what did the President take away from that? Is he more encouraged, based on receiving that letter?

SANDERS: I’m not going to get into the specifics of the letter. But as the President said, they were interesting, and we feel like things are continuing to move forward and good progress has been made. And we’re continuing to prepare for the President’s summit.

I can tell you the President has been receiving daily briefings on North Korea from his national security team. And I can also tell you the schedule, tentatively, for that first meeting will be on June 12 at 9:00 a.m. Singapore time, and take place on June 11th, 9:00 p.m. East Coast time.

(The Capella Hotel in Singapore has been chosen to host the historic event.)

Q There’s a separate report that Vladimir Putin has reached out to Kim JongUn and wants to meet with him. Is that a meeting that the President thinks would be constructive to this process? Does the President support Vladimir Putin meeting with Kim JongUn as well?

SANDERS: Our focus is on the President’s meeting with Kim JongUn. And the President will make his views known directly to him when we’re in Singapore. And our focus will continue to be on denuclearization.

Q Sarah, no matter what you call it, is maximum pressure still the policy of the United States toward North Korea?

SANDERS: Our policy hasn’t changed, and as the President stated, we have sanctions on, they’re very powerful, and we would not take those sanctions off unless North Korea denuclearized.

On North Korea, we are actively preparing for the June 12 summit between the President and the North Korean leader. The advance team in Singapore is finalizing logistical preparations and will remain in place until the summit begins.

In the DMZ, the U.S. Ambassador’s delegation continues diplomatic negotiations with the North Korean delegation. Discussions have been very positive, and significant progress has been made.

Q Sarah, no matter what you call it, is maximum pressure still the policy of the United States toward North Korea?

SANDERS: Our policy hasn’t changed, and as the President stated, we have sanctions on, they’re very powerful, and we would not take those sanctions off unless North Korea denuclearized.

Remarks by President Trump after Meeting with

Vice Chairman Kim Yong Chol of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: June 1, 2018

South Lawn

2:41 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: The meeting went very well. We’ll be meeting on June 12th in Singapore. It went very well. It’s really a get-to-know-you kind of a situation.

Mike has spent two days doing this. We’ve gotten to know their people very well. And we will — you people are going to have to travel because you’ll be in Singapore on June 12th.

And I think it’ll be a process. It’s not — I never said it goes in one meeting. I think it’s going to be a process. But the relationships are building, and that’s a very positive thing.

Q Mr. President, what’s your sense of what the North Koreans are willing to do on the issue of denuclearization? Are they looking at it all at once?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think they want to do that. I know they want to do that. They want other things along the line. They want to develop as a country. That’s going to happen. I have no doubt. Japan is involved, as you know. And South Korea is very much involved. We’re involved in terms of getting everything. Everybody wants the United States. So we’re going to help in the process very much. Without us, it wouldn’t happen.

But I think that you see a lot of very positive things, including with China. I think you see a lot of very positive things happening with President Xi, who has helped me quite a bit with this. So we’ll see where it leads.

But we’re going to be — June 12th, we’ll be in Singapore. It will be a beginning. I don’t say and I’ve never said it happens in one meeting. You’re talking about years of hostility; years of problems; years of, really, hatred between so many different nations. But I think you’re going to have a very positive result in the end. Not from one meeting, but you’re going to have a very positive —

Q You appeared to question their sincerity in your letter to Kim Jong Un last week. Have they gone far enough now? Do you believe they’re sincere?

THE PRESIDENT: My letter was a response to their letter. The media forgot that. You know, the media said, “Oh, you had a meeting, then you cancelled.” I didn’t cancel the meeting. I cancelled it in response to a very tough statement. And I think we’re over that — totally over that. And now we’re going to deal, and we’re going to really start a process.

We’re meeting with the Chairman on June 12th. And I think it’s probably going to be a very successful — ultimately, a successful process. We’ll see.

Remember what I say: We will see what we will see. But I think it’s going to be a process that we deserve to have. I mean, we really deserve — they want it. We think it’s important. And I think we would be making a big mistake if we didn’t have it. I think we’re going to have a relationship, and it will start on June 12th.

Q What can you get done in one meeting? What can you get done on June 12th? And why do you think they’re open to denuclearization?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, this was a very good meeting. Don’t forget, this was a meeting where a letter was given to me by Kim Jong Un, and that letter was a very nice letter. Oh, would you like to see what was in that letter? Would you like it?

Q Can you tell us?

THE PRESIDENT: How much? How much? How much?

Q Can you just give us a flavor of what the letter said?

THE PRESIDENT: Ah, it was a very interesting letter. And at some point I may be — it may be appropriate, and maybe I’ll be able to give it to you. Maybe you’ll be able to see it, and maybe fairly soon.

But really, this was a letter presentation that ended up being a two-hour conversation.

Q Why did it end up going so long, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Because we found the whole subject matter very interesting. And because I really think they want to do something. And if it’s possible, so do we.

Q What did he ask you (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: I think all we’re going to do is be there on June 12th, and we’re going to see what happens. Mike has been dealing very well. They have a very good relationship with Mike Pompeo, our Secretary of State. It was actually very interesting because this was literally going to be the delivery of a letter, and it ended up being a two-hour conversation with the second most powerful man in North Korea.

Q Did he ask you anything about troop levels in South Korea?

THE PRESIDENT: We talked about almost everything. We talked about a lot. And we talked about sanctions.

Q (Inaudible) with Kim Jong Un yet?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t want to say that.

Q Did they agree to CVID, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: We talked about about a lot of things. We really did. But the big deal will be on June 12th. And again, it’s a process. It doesn’t go — we’re not going to sign a — we’re not going to go in and sign something on June 12th and we never were. We’re going to start a process. And I told them today, “Take your time. We can go fast. We can go slowly.” But I think they’d like to see something happen. And if we can work that out, that will be good. But the process will begin on June 12th in Singapore.

Q Do you believe Kim is committed to denuclearization?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I do think so. He’d like to see it happen. He wants to be careful. He wants to be, you know — he’s not going to run and do things. But I told him, to be honest with you, look, we have sanctions on; they’re very powerful sanctions. We would not take sanctions off unless they did that. But the sanctions are very powerful. You’ve seen how powerful in other ways. You’re going to see how powerful sanctions are when it comes to Iran. You see what that’s doing to Iran.

So we have sanctions on. And at a certain point, I’ll tell you what, I look forward to the day when I can take the sanctions off of North Korea.

Q Did you talk about human rights today? And do you expect to talk about it on —

THE PRESIDENT: We did not talk about human rights, no.

Q Do you expect to talk about it on June 12th?

THE PRESIDENT: Could be. Yeah. Could be. I think we probably will, and maybe in great detail. We did not talk about human rights.

Q Did you talk about sanctions? Did they ask you to make any changes?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, we did. We talked about it. Yes, they asked about sanctions.

Q Is maximum pressure over, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me?

Q Is maximum pressure over, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: It’s going to remain what it is now. I don’t even want to use the term “maximum pressure” anymore because I don’t want to use that term because we’re getting along. You see the relationship. We’re getting along.

So it’s not a question of maximum pressure. It’s staying essentially the way it is. At some point, hopefully, a deal — for the good of millions of people, a deal will be worked out.

Q Mr. President, how would you describe the state of relations now between the United States and North Korea after your meetings today?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think they’re okay. I mean, I think they’re good. Is it like the relationships we have with a couple of other countries? Probably not. Right? But I think the relationship we have right now with North Korea is as good as it’s been in a long time.

They had no relationship under the previous administration. There was nothing. It was nothing. They were explaining, it was just a “nothing.” Nothing was done.

Hey, folks, this should not be up to me. This should have been handled a long time ago. This got to a very critical point. This should have been handled many years ago — not only by President Obama, but by other Presidents that preceded me. This shouldn’t be done now, this should have been done years ago.

Q Do you plan to offer the North Koreans economic aid at the June 12th summit?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, what’s going to happen is South Korea will do that. No, I don’t think the United States is going to have to spend. I think South Korea will do it. I think China — I think, frankly, China will help out.

I think that Japan will help out. No, I don’t see the United States spending a lot of money. You know, we have three hostages. How much money did I spend for the hostages?

And, look, we’re very far away. We are very far away. Those places are very close. It’s their neighborhood. We’re thousands — we’re 6,000 miles away. So I’ve already told South Korea, I said, “You know, you’re going to have to get ready.” And Japan, also.

And I think they really want to see something great happen. Japan does, South Korea does, and I think China does. But that’s their neighborhood; it’s not our neighborhood.

Q Mr. President, yesterday you were concerned about the meeting that Lavrov was having with Kim Jong Un.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I didn’t like it.

Q Where are you on that today?

THE PRESIDENT: I didn’t like it, but it could be very positive, too.

I didn’t like the Russian meeting yesterday. I said, “What’s the purpose of that?” But, it could be a positive meeting. If it’s a positive meeting, I love it. If it’s a negative meeting, I’m not happy. And it could very well be a positive meeting.

Q Are you willing to end the South Korean War on June 12th, during the summit?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we could — that could happen. That could happen. We talked about it.

Q Tell us more.

THE PRESIDENT: We talked about ending the war. And you know, this war has been going on — it’s got to be the longest war — almost 70 years, right? And there is a possibility of something like that. That’s more of a signing of a document that it’s very important in one way. Historically, it’s very important. But we’ll see.

And we did discuss that — the ending of the Korean War. Can you believe that we’re talking about the ending of the Korean War? You’re talking about 70 years.

Q Has that document been prepared? Or is it being prepared?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re going to discuss it prior to the meeting. That’s something that could come out of the meeting. I think, really, there’s something that maybe could come out of the meeting.

Q Where’s China on that?

THE PRESIDENT: I think China would like to see a very positive result. I have a lot of good relations with, as you know, Chairman Xi. He’s a great — he’s really a very wonderful guy. He’s a man that loves China. However, he wants to do what’s best for China. I think China and President Xi would love to see something happen here.

Q When you say you’re going to guarantee Kim’s security, and the North Korean regime’s security, how will you do that? How would the United States do that?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re going to make sure it’s secure. We’re going to make sure when this is over, it’s over. It’s not going to be starting up again.

And they have a potential to be a great country. And I think South Korea is going to help a lot. Japan is going to help a lot. I think China is going to help a lot.

Q How do you envision that working, though?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s a very complicated question, frankly, but you’ll see that over a period of time.

Q When you gave your speech in Seoul last November, you talked about the bright promise if North Korea should choose to join the company of nations. But if you leave Kim in place, can you really have a transformation like that?

THE PRESIDENT: I really think you can. And I think it’s going to be very successful. They’re incredible people. I think it’s going to be a very great success. So we’ll see what happens.

But we’ll see you — we will see you on June 12th, but I’m sure we’ll see you a little bit before that. In the meantime, how is Sarah doing? Okay? (Laughter.)

Q Have you discussed dates for a second or a third summit?

THE PRESIDENT: The — which one?

Q Did you discuss dates for a second or a third meeting?

THE PRESIDENT: I told them, I think that you’re going to have, probably, others. Hey, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we walked out and everything was settled all of a sudden from sitting down for a couple of hours? No, I don’t see that happening. But I see over a period of time.

And frankly, I said, “Take your time. Take your time. It’s going to remain as is, but take your time.”

One thing I did do, and it was very important, we had hundreds of new sanctions ready to go on. And he did not — the director did not ask, but I said I’m not going to put them on until such time as the talks break down.

We have very significant sanctions on now. But we had hundreds — we have hundreds that are ready to go. But I said, “I’m not going to.” But why would I do that when we’re talking so nicely?

Q Is this first meeting more of a personal diplomacy, part of your “getting to know you” —

THE PRESIDENT: I think it’s a “getting to know you” meeting, plus. And that can be a very positive thing.

Q Mr. President, what was your response to the letter? Did you send anything back?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I didn’t. I haven’t seen the letter yet. I purposely didn’t open the letter. I haven’t opened it. I didn’t open it in front of the director.

I said, “Would you want me to open it?” He said, “You can read it later.” I may be in for a big surprise, folks. (Laughter.) So long, everybody. Q What’s the next move on NAFTA, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, NAFTA — look, it’s been a terrible deal for the United States. People are starting to see it. We lose over $100 billion a year with Mexico. We lose many, many, many billions of dollars with Canada. Canada doesn’t take — I mean, they’re very restrictive as to taking our agricultural product, and other things.

And, you know, all of these countries, including the European Union, they charge five times the tariff. We don’t charge tariffs, essentially. They charge five times what we charge for tariffs. And I believe in the word “reciprocal.” You’re going to charge five times? We’re going to charge five times. That hasn’t been done. No other President ever brought it up. And it’s going to be done now.

So we’re negotiating numerous deals. We’re talking about NAFTA. To be honest with you, I wouldn’t see NAFTA — I wouldn’t mind seeing NAFTA, where you’d go by a different name, where you make a separate deal with Canada and a separate deal with Mexico because you’re talking about a very different two countries.

But I wouldn’t mind seeing a separate deal with Canada, where you have one type of product, so to speak, and a separate deal with Mexico.

These are two very difficult countries. It’s been a lousy deal for the United States from day one. We lose a lot of money with Canada, and we lose a fortune with Mexico. And it’s not going to happen like that anymore.

I mean, Mexico has taken our car companies, a big percentage of them. And we can’t do that. And, look, the American worker agrees with me. Obviously, the stock market agrees because when you look at what’s going on with the stocks, they’re starting to see I’m right.

But if you take the European Union and you see the kind of tariff they charge, and then we don’t, that’s called, “not fair trade.” I want fair trade. I like free trade, but I want fair trade. At a minimum, I want fair trade.

And we’re going to have it for our workers and for our companies. And you know what? The other side understands it.

To be honest with you, they cannot believe that they’ve gotten away with this for so many decades.

Q Canada, the UK, some of our closest allies are complaining long and loud about these new tariffs. What do you say to them?

THE PRESIDENT: They’re our allies but they take advantage of us economically. And so I agree — I love Canada. I love Mexico. I love them. But Mexico is making over $100 billion a year and they’re not helping us with our border because they have strong laws and we have horrible laws. We have horrible border laws. They have strong — they could solve our border problem if they wanted, but they don’t want to. And when they want to, then I’ll be happy.

But I think we have a good chance of doing some great trade deals, and we’ll make America great again. Right? That’s what we’re doing. But America has picked up — we’ve made about $8 trillion in value since — you know, we’re double the size of the economy of China. We’ve picked up a lot of value, a lot of wealth, since I’ve been President. More than $8 trillion. And that’s a very low number because we’re talking stock market wealth. I’m talking about beyond that.

Our companies are doing great, we’re doing great, our military is rebuilding. We have a lot of great things going. We’re going to straighten out trade. The trade is going to be easy.

And other countries understand. You know, when I talk to them, they look at me — and this is in closed doors, not for you people — and they essentially say, “We can’t believe we’ve gotten away with this for so long.” It’s like, you guys can’t believe you’ve gotten away with it for so long.

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: I want everyone to watch. Because I’ll tell you what, we have such a great country. Right now, at this level, I don’t think we’ve ever been, on an economic scale — you look at the numbers: 3.8 percent. We have the lowest numbers of unemployment that we’ve had — is it 50 years? I think it’s 50. Fifty years, right? So we have the best — we have some of the best economic numbers we’ve ever had as a nation. And that goes a long way. And we’re building something very special. Just remember, we’re twice the size — our economy — twice the size of China.

Good meeting today. I think it’s a great start.

Q What’s on the agenda for Camp David?

THE PRESIDENT: Just a little relaxation and a lot of work. We have a lot of calls set up. I’m calling a lot of the foreign leaders. I’m negotiating trade deals. I’m working. I’m working hard for you people.

Have a good time. Thank you.

END

US. Sec. of Defense Mattis China Opening Statement at
IISS Shangri-La Dialogue June 2, 2018

;

Remarks by Secretary Mattis at Plenary Session of the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue

Press Operations

Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis; John Chipman, Director-General and Chief Executive, IISS

June 2, 2018

Q: You have mentioned the South China Sea quite extensively in your speech, Mr. Secretary. So my question is related to the U.S.-Philippine alliance. Because in 2014, President Obama, when he was visiting Manila, was asked twice by a journalist if Philippine-occupied features and Filipino public vessels in the South China Sea are covered by the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. And twice, he sidelined the question.

When Secretary Hillary Clinton was asked the same question, she said that she does not to discuss hypothetical scenarios. But let me just ask the same question of you, Mr. Secretary, because I think the answer to this question is very important as to how the Duterte administration is going to move ahead with its own maritime security policy.

So in essence the question is, are Filipino public vessels and Philippine-occupied features in the South China Sea covered by the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty? Thank you.

SEC. MATTIS: Yes, thank you. It's good to see someone without my color hair here, young man. I appreciate that.

The -- let me tell you that when we have discussions on these matters, the reason why public figures do not want to give specific answers is that these are complex issues. And when you start saying, "yes, no, black, white" -- we have been on the record about international tribunals that say there is no such thing as a nine-dash line, or is no legal basis for this -- we stand by international law. We stand by international tribunals. We listen to each nation's concerns. And to simply turn it into a -- a military or non-military response is -- is a shortchanging of the issue.

This is what diplomacy is all about. Diplomacy is all about taking contrary perspectives and finding common ground. And we've got to try to do that in this world. Those of us who have worn uniforms, those who wear uniforms today, are keenly aware of the cost of war, and there has got to be a commitment, not a, "Well, when it suits me, I'll listen to other nations." Not, "When it suits me, I'll listen to international tribunals."

It's go to be that we actually want to live by these rules, these rules that have allowed China to recover many people from the depths of poverty and bring up their quality of life; these rules have helped China. There is a reason why China, I believe, will eventually come to grips with the needs and the expectations of the neighbors around them.

And further, I would just tell you that we maintain confidentiality at times in these efforts, and I -- you know, I mean it's a free and open press here, and I -- I support that, but at the same time, you can often do most of your good work and setting the conditions for a path ahead by not locking yourself into public statements where, understandably, people take each word separately apart and now pretty soon you're -- you're locked into positions that do not allow the diplomats to find common ground.

So I'm not trying to give a -- a civics class here, I just want you to understand why in many cases those who actually carry the responsibility do not go for, "It's my way or the highway," or there's only one position. That would -- might very well be a going in position, and we stand by our treaty allies, but this is a discussion between the current administration in the Manila and in Washington D.C., and it's not one that can be answered as simply as your question would indicate.

MR. CHIPMAN: And from Malaysia, Dr. (Ngao Chao Bing ?).

Q: Hello. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. So the reason the National Security Strategy document and a National Defense Strategy document of the United States government have identified China and Russia as the main concerns, and basically the strategic adversaries in the coming years, I assume, is the position.

As I understand the -- for a long time, the U.S. strategy is trying not to create -- it will have a unifier erosion (inaudible) and try to drive a wedge between China and Russia, but now the documents seem to actually push them to work together even further. So is that really -- I'm just wondering -- is that really a wise move to put China and Russia and make them actually work much closer in these documents? Thank you.

SEC. MATTIS: Yes. If that's what the documents appear to do -- I've got to go back and read them again, because our view is that with both those nations with great power competition and at levels that we had hoped we'd see be characterized more by cooperation and collaboration -- if the competition is going to grow more strident then that's what we don't want to have happen.

And in terms of their relationship I think it's -- from my review its objective fact that Russia has more in common with Western Europe and the United States than they have in common with China. I believe China has more in common with Pacific Ocean nations and the United States and India than they have in common with Russia. I think there's a natural non-convergence of interest. There may be short-term convergence in the event they want to contradict international tribunals or try muscling their way into certain circumstances but my view -- I would not be wasting my time going to Beijing at the end of the month if I really thought that's the only option between us and China. What would be the point of it? I've got more important things to do.

I believe that what we're going to see is at some point in both Moscow and Beijing they are going to recognize the reality of what we see in this room: many different nations all sitting down together all trying to find a way forward with respect for each other's internal dynamics, each other's culture and not finding this as a reason why we cannot work together. We all know we can work together.

We have worked closely with Russia to defeat fascism and with China to defeat fascism. We have worked closely with other nations that we had open war with: with Germany, with Japan after World War II. There is no need for this to go in the direction you're referring to of those two against the world.

There are obviously a lot of nations allied with us. There's a lot of nations collaborating and partnering with us but those nations and us, combined have a desire for peace and figured out how we can find a way through these disagreements in a positive, productive, relationship that's competitive certainly but does not have to be combative and that we all have to work hard at that.

But I will go back and read the documents again -- after you go through it about 30 times before you sign it you can sometimes start to see the forest for the trees. So, thanks for bringing that up. I'll take a look at it. It's certainly not how we see the world.

MR CHIPMAN: In about two minutes we will move immediately to the second plenary on the important issue of de-escalating the North Korean crisis, but I hope you all agree with me that we have had just now a very clear statement from the U.S. secretary of defense. And a tremendous conversation with the secretary of defense in command of the subject matter, the issues, the strategy, and defense diplomatic execution. And please join me in thanking him for these 45 minutes. (Applause.)

Q: You have mentioned the South China Sea quite extensively in your speech, Mr. Secretary. So my question is related to the U.S.-Philippine alliance. Because in 2014, President Obama, when he was visiting Manila, was asked twice by a journalist if Philippine-occupied features and Filipino public vessels in the South China Sea are covered by the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. And twice, he sidelined the question.

When Secretary Hillary Clinton was asked the same question, she said that she does not to discuss hypothetical scenarios. But let me just ask the same question of you, Mr. Secretary, because I think the answer to this question is very important as to how the Duterte administration is going to move ahead with its own maritime security policy.

So in essence the question is, are Filipino public vessels and Philippine-occupied features in the South China Sea covered by the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty? Thank you.

SEC. MATTIS: Yes, thank you. It's good to see someone without my color hair here, young man. I appreciate that.

The -- let me tell you that when we have discussions on these matters, the reason why public figures do not want to give specific answers is that these are complex issues. And when you start saying, "yes, no, black, white" -- we have been on the record about international tribunals that say there is no such thing as a nine-dash line, or is no legal basis for this -- we stand by international law. We stand by international tribunals. We listen to each nation's concerns. And to simply turn it into a -- a military or non-military response is -- is a shortchanging of the issue.

This is what diplomacy is all about. Diplomacy is all about taking contrary perspectives and finding common ground. And we've got to try to do that in this world. Those of us who have worn uniforms, those who wear uniforms today, are keenly aware of the cost of war, and there has got to be a commitment, not a, "Well, when it suits me, I'll listen to other nations." Not, "When it suits me, I'll listen to international tribunals."

It's go to be that we actually want to live by these rules, these rules that have allowed China to recover many people from the depths of poverty and bring up their quality of life; these rules have helped China. There is a reason why China, I believe, will eventually come to grips with the needs and the expectations of the neighbors around them.

And further, I would just tell you that we maintain confidentiality at times in these efforts, and I -- you know, I mean it's a free and open press here, and I -- I support that, but at the same time, you can often do most of your good work and setting the conditions for a path ahead by not locking yourself into public statements where, understandably, people take each word separately apart and now pretty soon you're -- you're locked into positions that do not allow the diplomats to find common ground.

So I'm not trying to give a -- a civics class here, I just want you to understand why in many cases those who actually carry the responsibility do not go for, "It's my way or the highway," or there's only one position. That would -- might very well be a going in position, and we stand by our treaty allies, but this is a discussion between the current administration in the Manila and in Washington D.C., and it's not one that can be answered as simply as your question would indicate.

MR. CHIPMAN: And from Malaysia, Dr. (Ngao Chao Bing ?).

Q: Hello. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary. So the reason the National Security Strategy document and a National Defense Strategy document of the United States government have identified China and Russia as the main concerns, and basically the strategic adversaries in the coming years, I assume, is the position.

As I understand the -- for a long time, the U.S. strategy is trying not to create -- it will have a unifier erosion (inaudible) and try to drive a wedge between China and Russia, but now the documents seem to actually push them to work together even further. So is that really -- I'm just wondering -- is that really a wise move to put China and Russia and make them actually work much closer in these documents? Thank you.

SEC. MATTIS: Yes. If that's what the documents appear to do -- I've got to go back and read them again, because our view is that with both those nations with great power competition and at levels that we had hoped we'd see be characterized more by cooperation and collaboration -- if the competition is going to grow more strident then that's what we don't want to have happen.

And in terms of their relationship I think it's -- from my review its objective fact that Russia has more in common with Western Europe and the United States than they have in common with China. I believe China has more in common with Pacific Ocean nations and the United States and India than they have in common with Russia. I think there's a natural non-convergence of interest. There may be short-term convergence in the event they want to contradict international tribunals or try muscling their way into certain circumstances but my view -- I would not be wasting my time going to Beijing at the end of the month if I really thought that's the only option between us and China. What would be the point of it? I've got more important things to do.

I believe that what we're going to see is at some point in both Moscow and Beijing they are going to recognize the reality of what we see in this room: many different nations all sitting down together all trying to find a way forward with respect for each other's internal dynamics, each other's culture and not finding this as a reason why we cannot work together. We all know we can work together.

We have worked closely with Russia to defeat fascism and with China to defeat fascism. We have worked closely with other nations that we had open war with: with Germany, with Japan after World War II. There is no need for this to go in the direction you're referring to of those two against the world.

There are obviously a lot of nations allied with us. There's a lot of nations collaborating and partnering with us but those nations and us, combined have a desire for peace and figured out how we can find a way through these disagreements in a positive, productive, relationship that's competitive certainly but does not have to be combative and that we all have to work hard at that.

But I will go back and read the documents again -- after you go through it about 30 times before you sign it you can sometimes start to see the forest for the trees. So, thanks for bringing that up. I'll take a look at it. It's certainly not how we see the world.

MR CHIPMAN: In about two minutes we will move immediately to the second plenary on the important issue of de-escalating the North Korean crisis, but I hope you all agree with me that we have had just now a very clear statement from the U.S. secretary of defense. And a tremendous conversation with the secretary of defense in command of the subject matter, the issues, the strategy, and defense diplomatic execution. And please join me in thanking him for these 45 minutes. (Applause.)

Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo Remarks at a Press Availability

Spellman Room, Lotte Palace Hotel

New York City

May 31, 2018

SECRETARY POMPEO: Good afternoon, everyone. As you know, in addition to my meeting with Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol, we have teams in Singapore and at the DMZ working with their North Korean counterparts to prepare for President Trump and Chairman Kim’s expected summit in Singapore. Through these series of meetings, I am confident we are moving in the right direction. Today, Vice Chairman Kim and I discussed how our countries could come together and take advantage of the unique opportunity that our two leaders have created through their visions of the future that they have so clearly articulated. Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol is now planning to travel to Washington to deliver a personal letter from Chairman Kim Jong-un. The proposed summit offers a historic opening for President Trump and Chairman Kim to boldly lead the United States and the DPRK into a new era of peace, prosperity, and security. Our two countries face a pivotal moment in our relationship in which it could be nothing short of tragic to let this opportunity go to waste. In my conversations with Chairman Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang and today with Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol, I have been very clear that President Trump and the United States objective is very consistent and well known: the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Trump has also made it clear that if Kim Jong-un denuclearizes, there is a brighter path for North Korea. We envision a strong, connected, and secure, prosperous North Korea that maintains its cultural heritage but is integrated into the community of nations. We think that working together, the people of the United States and North Korea can create a future defined by friendship and collaboration, not by mistrust and fear and threats. We sincerely hope that Chairman Kim Jong-un shares this positive vision for the future. We expect both leaders to enter the summit in Singapore, if it proceeds, with their eyes wide open and with a clear understanding of the possibilities for the future. If these talks are successful, it will truly be historic. It will take bold leadership from Chairman Kim Jong-un if we are able to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the course for the world. President Trump and I believe Chairman Kim is the kind of leader who can make those kinds of decisions, and that in the coming weeks and months we will have the opportunity to test whether or not this is the case. Happy to take a couple questions. MS NAUERT: Our first question – and one question each, please – goes to Nick Wadhams from Bloomberg. Nick, go ahead. QUESTION: Thanks. Mr. Secretary, last night the State Department told us that the U.S. would be looking for a historic commitment from North Korea before the summit would go ahead. Today you ended talks with Kim Yong-chol early. Can you talk about why you did that? Did you get the commitment you sought and do the U.S. and North Korea now agree on what denuclearization would mean? SECRETARY POMPEO: So that’s a (inaudible) matter. We didn’t end the talks early. We had a set series of items that we wanted to make sure we covered, topics which we made sure that we were clear on in terms of what our expectations were and their expectations in return of us. We achieved that. This is a difficult, difficult challenge. Make no mistake about it. There remains a great deal of work to do. And we made progress here as well as at the same time made progress in the other venues that conversations were taking place. We had all the time we needed today to make the progress that was achievable during our time here in New York City. MS NAUERT: Our next question goes to Michael Gordon from The Wall Street Journal. QUESTION: Sir, following up on that, a senior State Department official – same person who spoke to us last night – also indicated that the United States hopes to persuade North Korea that its security doesn’t depend on nuclear weapons. You’ve now had three meetings with them and spent some hours with them. Do you feel that you’ve been successful yet in doing that, or is the difficult in settling this issue the reason why President Trump is now talking about the possibility of having two or three summits and not just trying to break the back of these issues in a single meeting? SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, this is – look, make no mistake about it. President Trump, this administration completely understands how hard this problem is. There is a long history where North Korea has viewed its nuclear program as providing the security that it needed for the regime. The effort now is to come to a set of understandings which convince the North Koreans of what President Trump has said. If we’re able to achieve it, if the North Koreans are prepared in fact to denuclearize – this includes all elements of their nuclear program – if we convince them of that, that in fact their security is greater, that in fact the real threat to their security is the continued holding onto of that nuclear weapons program and not the converse. We’ve had lots of conversations around that. The true test, of course, comes when we actually achieve this, but many conversations have been had about how we might proceed, what the path might be forward so that we can achieve both the denuclearization that the world demands of North Korea and the security assurances that would be required for them to allow us to achieve that. MS NAUERT: Next one to Martha Raddatz from ABC News. QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo, you call it a proposed summit. Will we find out whether it’s a go tomorrow? And also, you looked the vice chairman in the eyes. You have been with him in the room. What accounted for the progress? This has been such a roller coaster ride. The summit was off; we’ve gone from fire and fury to this. So talk about what accounted for the change, and do you worry that you could still change back? SECRETARY POMPEO: So Martha, I have had the chance to meet Chairman Kim Jong-un twice and now Kim Yong-chol three times. I’ve spent a great deal of time with each of them. I believe they are contemplating a path forward where they can make a strategic shift, one that their country has not been prepared to make before. This will obviously be their decision. They’ll have to make that. They’ll have to choose – as I just spoke about, they’ll have to choose a path that is fundamentally different than the one that their country has proceeded on for decades. It should not be to anyone’s surprise that there will be moments along the way that this won’t be straightforward, that there’ll be things that look hard and times it appears there’s a roadblock and sometimes, perhaps, even perceived as insurmountable. Our mission is incredibly clear. It is to continue to push forward – the President has directed me to push forward to test the proposition that we can achieve that outcome. So I know everyone’s following this minute by minute and hour by hour. This is going to be a process that will take days and weeks to work our way through. There will be tough moments, there will be difficult times. I’ve had some difficult conversations with them as well. They’ve given it right back to me too. There is – we’re decades into this challenge, and so one not ought to be either surprised or frightened or deterred by moments where it looks like there are challenges and difficulties, things that can’t be bridged. Our mission is to bridge them so that we can achieve this historic outcome. QUESTION: And on the proposed summit, will we know tomorrow whether there will actually be a summit? SECRETARY POMPEO: Don’t know. Don’t know the answer to that. MS NAUERT: And our final question goes to Adam Shapiro with Fox News. SECRETARY POMPEO: Let me just say, Martha, while we may not know tomorrow, I will tell you we’ve made real progress in the last 72 hours toward setting the conditions, right – so your question really goes to what are the conditions. The conditions are putting President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un in a place where we think there could be real progress made by the two of them meeting. It does no good if we’re in a place where we don’t think there’s real opportunity to place them together. We’ve made real progress towards that in the last 72 hours. MS NAUERT: And Adam from Fox. QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo, you talk about complete denuclearization of the peninsula, so my question is about this and the impact on our allies. What concern does the United States have about exposing South Korea and our Asian allies, like Japan, to greater, perhaps, Chinese influence if there is as part of a deal in the future a draw-down of U.S. military presence in South Korea? SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m not going to talk about today nor at any time during the negotiations about the elements of what the shape of the agreement looks like. That’s – those are things that ought to be held so that the leaders have all the freedom they need to make the right decision. So with respect to the draw-down, it’s obviously a DOD issue. I’m not going to speak to that today. What I can say is this: I’ve been the Secretary of State now for 30-odd days, I think. There is no daylight between the South Koreans, the Japanese, and the United States with respect to our approach to how we resolve this issue with respect to North Korea. I have spoken to my counterparts there, I’ve spoken to President Moon there. We understand their concerns. We understand the risks that can be posed to them. And an agreement that we reach will provide an outcome that each of those countries can sign on to as well. QUESTION: But is there the potential for the creation, for lack of a better term, of a vacuum that the Chinese could then move in, whether it be economic, political, or militarily? SECRETARY POMPEO: The Chinese are moving all around the world today. Let’s be clear. The risk of that is real everywhere, not just in this particular space. We’re keenly aware of it, and I’m – I am confident that the things we’re talking about with respect to North Korea will not enhance the risk of that to any significant degree. We wouldn’t do that to the South Koreans or the Japanese, two of our most important allies in the region. MS NAUERT: Okay, everyone. Thank you. SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you very much. MS NAUERT: Thank you so much. Good to see you. QUESTION: Are we going to Singapore?

BREAKING NEWS: Top North Korean official headed to NY for summit talks

May 29, 2018

\

Top Stories Today - BREAKING NEWS Out Of North Korea

May 27, 2018

;

On May 27, 2018, published

;

BREAKING NEWS - MAY 24, 2018:

ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE

President Trump Letter to DPRK Chairman Kim Jong Un

President Trump's 'dramatic and positive' achievement

According to the White House May 22nd, 2018: South Korean President Jae-in Moon visited the White House yesterday, speaking with President Trump about recent developments in North Korea. The US-South Korea bilateral comes weeks before President Trump's planned summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

"President Trump has been able to achieve this dramatic and positive change that you see right now," President Moon said. "There have been many agreements between the United States and North Korea previously, but this will be the first time that there will be an agreement between the leaders."

President Trump emphasized that next month's summit is contingent on North Korea's willingness to engage on key issues, including denuclearization. "There are certain conditions that we want, and I think we'll get those conditions. And if we don't, we don't have the meeting," President Trump said. "It has a chance to be a great, great meeting for North Korea and a great meeting for the world."

President Moon of the Republic of Korea Before Bilateral Meeting

FOREIGN POLICY

Issued on: May 22, 2018

Oval Office

12:06 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to have President Moon of South Korea with us. We’ve become great friends over the years. And it’s now — we’ve now known each other for quite some time.

We’re working on many things. Obviously, North Korea is the big one. No matter how big trade is, North Korea, in this case, is the big one. And we’ll be discussing that. We’ll also be discussing trade. We have a very big trade arrangement that we’re renegotiating right now with South Korea. They’ve been excellent people to work with for the Trump administration. And we will have some pretty good news, I think, on trade. And we’ll be discussing other things.

But the big topic will be Singapore and the meeting. See what happens, whether or not it happens. If it does, that will be great. It will be a great thing for North Korea. And if it doesn’t, that’s okay too. Whatever it is, it is.

But I look forward to spending quite a bit of time with the President. And I think a lot of good things will happen. I want to thank everybody for being here.

Mr. President, it’s a great honor. Thank you.

PRESIDENT MOON: (As interpreted.) Well, I’d like to thank you, Mr. President, for your warm hospitality and for sharing much of your time with me. I know you have a very busy domestic calendar, as well as the all-important U.S.-North Korea summit approaching.

I heard the tragic news that many innocent lives were lost due to the shootings in a Texas high school a few days ago. So I’d like to convey my condolences to you and the American people.

On a brighter note, I would like to congratulate you for the safe return of the American citizens who had been detained in North Korea. Thanks to your vision of achieving peace through strength, as well as your strong leadership, we’re looking forward to the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit. And we find ourselves standing one step closer to the dream of achieving complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and world peace.

All this was possible because of you, Mr. President. And I have no doubt that you will be able to complete — accomplish a historic feat that no one had been able to achieve in the decades past.

I have to say that the fate and the future of the Korean Peninsula hinge on this. And as such, I’ll spare no effort to the end to support the success of the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit, and stand with you all along the way, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much.

Q Mr. President, do you think President Kim is serious about denuclearization?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I do think he’s serious. I think he would like to see that happen. At the same time, he’s going into a future that’s different from what they’ve had. But I think he’s absolutely very serious. Yes.

Q Do you think the summit is going to happen?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: One second. Go ahead. Go ahead, John.

Q Can you give us an update, sir, just on where things stand with the summit? President Moon’s national security advisor, on the way here, seemed to think that things are on track and that this will indeed happen.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we’re moving along. And we’ll see what happens. There are certain conditions that we want, and I think we’ll get those conditions. And if we don’t, we don’t have the meeting. And frankly, it has a chance to be a great, great meeting for North Korea and a great meeting for the world. If it doesn’t happen, maybe it will happen later. Maybe it will happen at a different time. But we will see.

But we are talking. The meeting is scheduled, as you know, on June 12th in Singapore. And whether or not it happens, you’ll be knowing pretty soon. But we’re talking right now.

Q Do you have an idea of how denuclearization would take place? Would it be all at once?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I do. I have a very strong idea how it takes place. And it must take place. That’s what we’re talking about. It must take place.

But I have a very strong idea, and I have very strong opinions on the subject. I also have very strong opinions that North Korea has a chance to be a great country, and it can’t be a great country under the circumstances that they’re living right now. But North Korea has a chance, really, to be a great country. And I think they should seize the opportunity. And we’ll soon find out whether or not they want to do that.

Yes.

Q Mr. President, have you spoken to Kim Jong-un?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t want to say that. I don’t want —

Q Do you trust Kim Jong-un, going into these meetings?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: There’s no reason to discuss that. I can say this: That for a short period of time, we’ve been dealing with North Korea, and it’s been a, you know, good experience. We have three hostages back. They’re home. They’re living with their families. They’re very, very happy. And so I can only speak for a very short period of time. But it’s been a relationship that seems to be working, and we’ll see how long it continues to work. Hopefully it’s going to work for a long time.

Q Unrelated, Mr. President, can you tell us more about your meeting with Rod Rosenstein and Director Wray yesterday?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, it was just a very routine meeting. As you know, the Congress would like to see documents opened up. A lot of people are saying they had spies in my campaign. If they had spies in my campaign, that would be a disgrace to this country. That would be one of the biggest insults that anyone has ever seen, and it would be very illegal, aside from everything else. It would make, probably, every political event ever look like small potatoes.

So we want to make sure that there weren’t. I hope there weren’t, frankly. But some man got paid — based on what I read in the newspapers and on what you reported, some person got paid a lot of money. That’s not a normal situation, the kind of money you’re talking about. So hopefully that would be — and I think the Department of Justice wants to get down to it. And I can tell you Congress does.

So hopefully they’ll all be able to get together. General Kelly is going to be setting up a meeting between Congress and the various representatives, and they’ll be able to open up documents, take a look, and find out what happened. But if they had spies in my campaign, during my campaign, for political purposes, that would be unprecedented in the history of our country.

Yes.

Q Can you give us an update on trade talks with China? Is there a deal about ZTE?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: No.

Q And what specifically have you agreed?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: No. President Xi and I have a great relationship, as President Moon can attest. But there is no deal. We will see what happens. We are discussing deals. We’re discussing various deals. We can do a 301. We can do — where we don’t need China, where we can just say, look, this is what we want, this is what we think is fair. That’s always a possibility if a negotiated deal doesn’t work out.

As I said, we lost $500 billion a year for many years. And then it varied from $100 billion to $500 billion. When you’re losing $500 billion a year, you can’t lose in terms of a negotiation. It’s really easy to win. But I want this to be a great deal for the United States, and I want it to be a very good deal for China, too, if that’s possible. It may not be possible.

As far as ZTE is concerned, the President asked me to look into it, and I am doing that. And don’t forget, for the ones who say, oh, gee, maybe Trump is getting a little bit easy — ZTE, we closed it. It wasn’t another administration. It was this administration that closed it. It’s a phone company, for those that don’t know. A very large phone company. But it’s also a phone company that buys a large portion of its parts that make up these phones that are sold all over the world from American companies.

So when you do that, you’re really hurting American companies, also. So I’m looking at it. But we were the ones that closed it. It wasn’t done by previous administrations. It was done by us. So we’ll see what happens.

But as a favor to the President, I am absolutely taking a look at it. A lot of the stories on trade were incorrectly written, and I’m not saying that’s the reporter’s fault; I’m saying that I’m not talking about the trade deal. I don’t like to talk about deals until they’re done. So we’ll see what happens. But that deal — I will say, that deal could be much different from the deal that finally emerges. And it may be a much better deal for the United States.

Q Mr. President, do you have confidence in Rod Rosenstein?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: What’s your next question, please?

Q I’m a reporter from —

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Excuse me, I have the President of South Korea here, okay?

Q Yes, I have a question on —

PRESIDENT TRUMP: He doesn’t want to hear these questions, if you don’t mind.

Q President Trump, I’m a reporter from South Korea. How much confidence and trust do you have in my President in playing the mediator role in resolving this North Korea issue and the denuclearization process?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I have great confidence in your President. I think that he’s brought a different perspective to the talks with North Korea. He wants to be able to make a deal. Now, you’ve had some very hardline administrations, and you have President Moon, and you’ve had others before President Moon, who also had more or less this attitude.

I think he’s a very capable person. I think he’s an extremely competent man. I think he’s a very good person. And I think he wants to have what’s good for the Korean Peninsula, not just North or South — for the entire Korean Peninsula.

So I have tremendous confidence in President Moon. And I think that his way — the way he is — really is helping us to potentially make a deal. Whether the deal gets made or not, who knows. It’s a deal. Who knows. You never know about deals. If you go into deals that are 100 percent certain, it doesn’t happen. If you go into deals that have no chance, and it happens, and sometimes happens easily. I’ve made a lot of deals. I know deals, I think, better than anybody knows deals. You never really know. And that’s why I say to you.

But I will tell you, this is a good man and he is a very capable man. And I think South Korea is very lucky to have him. Do you want to interpret that for him, so he can hear? Because, you know, he’s not hearing what we’re doing here. Go ahead.

Wait, we’ll just let that be interpreted.

Q He might surprise you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: He probably does. He probably knows better than we do.

Did I do a good job? (Laughter.) Huh? I can’t do better than that. That’s called an A-plus rating, right? I can’t do better —

Okay, we’ll take a couple more. Go ahead.

Q Mr. President, what are your conditions for meeting with Kim Jong-un? You said you had —

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I’d rather not say. But we are working on something. And, you know, there’s a chance that it will work out. There’s a chance; there’s a very substantial chance it won’t work out. I don’t want to waste a lot of time, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to waste a lot of time. So there’s a very substantial chance that it won’t work out, and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean it won’t work out over a period of time. But it may not work out for June 12th. But there’s a good chance that we’ll have the meeting.

Q Mr. President, if I could ask you and President Moon this question. In terms of denuclearization, should it be an all-in-one? Or could it be incremental, with incentives along the way for Kim Jong-un to denuclearize?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, all in one would be nice, I can tell you. I’m not going to go beyond that. It would certainly be better if it were all in one. Does it have to be? I don’t think I want to totally commit myself. But all in one would be a lot better. Or at least for physical reasons, over a very short period of time. You know, you do have some physical reasons that it may not be able to do exactly that. So for physical reasons, over a very short period of time. Essentially, that would be all in one.

Q President Trump, I’m a reporter from South Korea. If North Korea and Kim Jong-un decide CVID, will you literally guarantee the safety of the regime of North Korea?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I will guarantee his safety. Yes, we will guarantee his safety. And we’ve talked about that from the beginning. He will be safe. He will be happy. His country will be rich. His country will be hardworking and very prosperous. They’re very great people. They’re hardworking, great people.

Look at what happened with South Korea. Don’t forget, we helped South Korea. We have spent trillions of dollars — not billions — trillions of dollars over many, many years. We helped South Korea. And South Korea is one of the most incredible countries in terms of what they do. You know that. That’s what you are. That’s where you’re from. Same people. Same people.

So, yeah, I think that he will be extremely happy if something works out. And if it doesn’t work out, honestly, he can’t be happy. But he has a chance to do something that maybe has never been done before. And I think it would be — if you look 25 years into the future, 50 years into the future, he will be able to look back and be very proud of what he did for North Korea and, actually, for the world. But he will be very proud of what he did for North Korea.

And just to finish that, because it’s a very important question, South Korea, China, and Japan — and I’ve spoken to all three — one I happen to have right here — they will be willing to help and, I believe, invest very, very large sums of money into helping to make North Korea great.

Q Mr. President, what do you want to hear from President Moon about his own summit with Kim Jong-un? What can he tell you as you’re preparing for the meeting in Singapore?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, that’s what we’re here for. He’s going to tell me. He’s got his own meetings that he’s had. We’re going to discuss that. He may have a meeting coming up; he may not. The word is that he may not. It may be directly with us. It may go directly to us in Singapore, or it may be at a later date. But that’s one of the reasons that he’s here, to talk about that.

Q Is there is anything you want to ask him specifically that you can tell us?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Nothing. No. We speak a lot on the phone. This should not be that long a meeting, actually.

Q You mean President Moon may have a meeting with Kim Jong-un instead of yourself?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: He may or may not. He may or may not. Right now he doesn’t know whether or not he has a meeting. But he may or may not have a meeting with Kim Jong-un.

Q Mr. President, are you pleased with how the trade talks with China went?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, not really. I think that they’re a start, but we need something — look, China has been — I really call it a dereliction of duties. That if you look at it — it’s called — in the military, they’d say it’s dereliction of duty. What happened to our country, that our representatives allowed other countries — and I’m not just talking about China; China is the big one — to take advantage of us on trade the way we’ve been taken advantage of. So China, as an example, has made a fortune. I mean, a transfer of wealth like nobody has ever seen in history. They’re the big one. They’re almost all bad, but China is the big one.

So, no, I’m not satisfied, but we’ll see what happens. We have a long way to go. But I wanted to go fairly quickly. You know, you’re talking about numbers like that; you’re talking about billions of dollars a week. Okay? So when they say, “Oh, let’s meet in a couple of weeks” — oh, that’s $2 billion, right? I view it that way. You know, we’re talking about billions of dollars a week that we suffer, we lose. And so we’re looking to go quickly.

I will say I’m a little disappointed, because when Kim Jong-un had the meeting with President Xi, in China, the second meeting — the first meeting we knew about — the second meeting — I think there was a little change in attitude from Kim Jong-un. So I don’t like that. I don’t like that. I don’t like it from the standpoint of China.

Now, I hope that’s not true, because we have — I have a great relationship with President Xi. He’s a friend of mine. He likes me. I like him. We have — I mean, that was two of the great days of my life being in China. It was — I don’t think anybody has ever been treated better in China — ever in their history. And I just think it was — many of you were there — it was an incredible thing to witness and see. And we built a very good relationship. We speak a lot.

But there was a difference when Kim Jong-un left China the second time. And I think they were dedicating an aircraft carrier that the United States paid for. Okay? Because we paid for it.

Q Do you think China had a role in that?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: That was built in China.

Q Do you think China maybe discouraged Kim from having the summit?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: No, but I think that President Xi is a world-class poker player. And I’d probably, maybe, doing the same thing that he would do. But I will say this: There was a somewhat different attitude after that meeting, and I’m a little surprised. Now, maybe nothing happened. I’m not blaming anybody, but I’m just saying, maybe nothing happened and maybe it did.

But there was different attitude by the North Korean folks when — after that meeting. So I don’t think it was a great meeting. Nobody knew about the meeting, and all of a sudden it was reported that he was in China a second time. The first time everybody knew about. The second time it was like a surprise.

And I think things changed after that meeting. So I can’t say that I’m happy about it. Okay?

Now, President Moon may have a different opinion. I would like to have your opinion on that — what you thought of the second meeting with President Xi. What is your feeling? You may have an opinion.

And I don’t want to get him in trouble. He lives right next to China. You know, he’s not too far away.

PRESIDENT MOON: (As interpreted.) Well, first of all, I am very much aware that there are many skeptical views within the United States about whether the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit will truly be successful and whether the complete denuclearization of North Korea will be realized.

But I don’t think there will be positive developments in history if we just assume that because it all failed in the past, it will fail again.

There have been many agreements between the United States and North Korea previously, but this will be the first time that there will be an agreement between the leaders.

And, moreover, the person who is in charge is President Trump. And President Trump has been able to achieve this dramatic and positive change that you see right now. And I have every confidence that President Trump will be able to achieve a historic feat of making the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit successful and end the Korean War that had been lasting for the past 65 years, and also, along the way, achieve complete denuclearization of North Korea, establish a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and also normalize relations between the United States and North Korea. I have every confidence that he will be able to make a historic turnaround in this sense. And I will spare no effort to provide all necessary support.

And I believe that all of this will lead to a great thing, that it will also guarantee the security of the North Korean regime, and also promise peace and prosperity for North Korea as well.

Q Mr. President, do you believe that President Xi is committed to peace and committed to North Korea’s denuclearization?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I would like to think so. I hope so. I mean, we’re dealing mostly on trade. But you see, when I’m dealing on trade, I have many other things in mind also. Every time I talk to China about trade, I’m thinking about the border. Because that border is a very important element in what we’re doing. It has been cut off largely, but it’s been opened up a little bit lately. I don’t like that. I don’t like that.

So we have a very powerful hand on trade. And when I’m thinking about trade –you know, I read you folks, and you say, “Well, why doesn’t he” — there’s a much bigger picture that I have in mind. Trade has always been a very important element in my life, in talking about other countries ripping off the United States. I’ve been watching them do it for 35 years. I’ve been watching them do that for so many years.

And nothing has changed, other than over the last 15, 20 years it’s gotten worse. And it’s not just China. But when I think of trade with China, I’m also thinking about what they’re doing to help us with peace with North Korea. That’s a very important element. So we’ll see how it all works out.

But in the end, it will work out. Can’t tell you exactly how or why, but it always does. It’s going to work out. Okay?

Thank you all. John, you have one more? Go ahead.

Q One more, sir. I’m just wondering, what is your vision for the long game with North Korea? Is it two Koreas peacefully coexisting? Or would you like to see reunification at some point down the road?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think what’s going to happen is you’ll start off, certainly, with two Koreas. And then it’s going to be largely up to them as to whether or not they get together. You know, that border was artificially imposed many, many years ago — and imposed, to a certain extent and to a very large extent, by us. It’s an artificial border, but it’s a border that nevertheless, it took seed, and that’s what you have.

I would say that we are looking, certainly, right now, at two Koreas. Two very successful Koreas. You’re going to have a very, very successful North Korea, and you’re going to have a very successful — and you already do — South Korea. I mean, South Korea was in condition that was as bad as North Korea many years ago, when they started this great experiment that worked out so well for them.

Now, you look at Samsung and LG, and the ships that they’re building, and what they’re doing. It’s incredible. When I was over there, I flew over plants that are incredible. What they have done is incredible. So I see two Koreas, and then ultimately, maybe someday in the future — it wouldn’t be now — but someday in the future, maybe they’ll get together and you’ll go back to one Korea. And that would be okay with me, too, as long as they both wanted that.

Okay? Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Yeah, go ahead.

Q You mentioned that you were looking into ZTE, as a favor to President Xi.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I am, yes.

Q How do you anticipate that ending up?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, again, ZTE buys a tremendous amount of equipment and parts for their telephones. They’re, as you know, the fourth largest in the world. And they buy them from American companies. So immediately, when I looked at it, it was my administration that closed them down. But when I looked at it, I said, “You know, they can pay a big price without necessarily damaging all of these American companies,” which they are, because, you know, you’re talking about tremendous amounts of money and jobs to American companies.

So I envision a very large fine. I envision, perhaps, new management, new board of directors, very tight security rules. But we caught them doing bad things. We caught them — not anybody else. We caught them doing bad things, and we essentially made it so difficult that it was shut down.

By shutting them down, we’re hurting a lot of American companies, really good American companies. Don’t — and I will tell you, don’t think that we didn’t hear from them by shutting down this massive phone company.

So what I envision is a very large fine of more than a billion dollars. Could be a billion-three. I envision a new management, a new board, and very, very strict security rules. And I also envision that they will have to buy a big percentage of their parts and equipment from American companies.

Okay? Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you.

Q (Speaks Korean.) (No translation provided.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: He’s a friendly reporter. They’re friends. So let them — like you. Except he kills me. For a friendly reporter, he kills me.

PRESIDENT MOON: (Speaks Korean.) (No translation provided.)

PRESIDENT TRUMP: And I don’t have to hear the translation because I’m sure I’ve heard it before. (Laughter.)

Goodbye, everybody. Thank you.

END

12:42 P.M. EDT

;

---------

President Donald Trump dismisses 'Libya model'
for North Korea's denuclearization

According to Aririnag News, Dated May 16th, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the so-called 'Libya model' for dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program, instead offering strong security guarantees to Pyongyang in return for its denuclearization.

He pledged that the U.S. would grant the North such a guarantee if a satisfactory deal is struck.

"But the model, if you look at that model with Gaddafi, that was a total decimation. We went in there to beat him. Now that model would take place if we don't make a deal, most likely. But if we make a deal, I think Kim Jong Un is going to be very, very happy."

The Libyan model, which has been pushed on U.S. news networks by President Trump's National Security Adviser, John Bolton, calls for a quick dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program with no guarantee of benefits to the regime in the process.

Pushing back against Bolton's remarks, Trump insisted protection for Kim and his regime would be very strong if the regime fully denuclearizes.

"We're willing to do a lot. And he's willing to, I think, do a lot also. And I think we'll actually have a good relationship, assuming we have the meeting and assuming something comes of it. And he'll get protections that will be very strong."

With all signs pointing to Bolton's mentioning of the 'Libya model' being the reason behind North Korea's recent 180-degree turn, the White House has been stressing that's not the model they are incorporating, saying instead a "President Trump model" will be used.

Will Trump's security guarantee be enough to ensure North Korea falls back in line?

With the North Korea-U.S.summit set for June 12th in Singapore, the U.S. and South Korea certainly hope it will be.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Dated May 16th, 2018, Breaking its day-long silence since North Korea abruptly called off a high-level dialogue within hours of the scheduled time and threatened to pull out of next month's historic summit between its leader

Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump South Korea's presidential Blue House says it will actively perform the role of a mediator to bridge the gap between the two as they appear to have "some difference in stance" ahead of their planned summit.

"The members of the National Security Council standing committee decided to closely coordinate through various channels between South Korea and the U.S. and South and North Korea so that the upcoming North Korea-U.S. summit will be held successfully in the manner of mutual respect."

President Moon is traveling to the U.S. next week for a bilateral summit with his U.S counterpart on the 22nd during which a Blue House official said the South Korean president plans to convey what he and his chief aides have discerned about Pyongyang's position and attitude and vice versa upon return from his U.S trip.

The Blue House and President Moon's key security officials do believe, however, that both North Korea and the U.S. are still serious and sincere about making the June 12th summit happen and

intends to continue discussions with North Korea to hold high-level talks that it cancelled on Wednesday.

"Members of the NSC standing committee reaffirmed their stance that the Panmunjom Declaration reached at the April 27 inter-Korea summit must be carried out without any disruption and agreed to continue consulting with the North to hold the high-level talks at an early date.

"As important and symbolic the April inter-Korean summit was to the South Korean president and his vision for peace on the Korean peninsula, the North Korea, U.S. summit is actually THE meeting where Mr. Moon has been placing his bet on in the grand denuclearization and peace building process on the peninsula.

So, it appears the president who pretty much laid the groundwork up until this point couldn't just step back and watch Pyongyang and Washington drift any further and away from such hard-won opportunity.

Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."

Reporter :jenmoon@arirang.co.kr