Trump does not consider any extra sanction against N. Korea for now

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time) that he is not considering any additional sanctions for some time given that North Korea is already in severe pain.

His remarks intend to mitigate the confusion caused by his recent Twitter post on an additional lifting of sanctions against North Korea. It is also interpreted as a message to calm down hawkish voices internally and to imply his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korea.

Asked why he attempted to reverse sanctions on North Korea in a press conference at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach, Florida, he said that he did not mean that he would not put additional sanctions later, reiterating that he does not consider the necessity of additional sanctions on North Korea for now.

President Trump showed his openness to further dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, putting emphasis on their relationship. He repeated that they are on good terms and understand each other very well, stressing that he thinks it is important to put as much effort as possible into maintaining his relationship with Kim.

President Trump is strongly determined to continuing dialogue with Kim despite opposing voices of hawkish politicians including U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and it seems that the president has attempted to make things right by narrowing the gap between the hawkish and dovish inside the country, according to a diplomatic source in Washington.


lightee@donga.com