Trump says there's a 'good chance' of peace with North Korea after Kim Jong Un goes to China

pulse

March 28, 2018 11:46 AM

Kim Jong Un took an unexpected trip to China, and is set to meet with South Korea's president and then Trump.

President Donald Trump talked up the chances of peace with North Korea after Kim Jong Un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But he warned that the US would keep up military and economic pressure on North Korea until the talks fleshed out.
Kim Jong Un took an unexpected trip to China, and is set to meet with South Korea's president and then Trump.

President Donald Trump responded to the news that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had made a historic visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping by saying there's a "good chance" of peace.

"For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility. Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity," Trump tweeted.

"Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to his meeting with me. In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all cost!" he concluded.

Kim reportedly reaffirmed his desire to discuss denuclearization with Xi, and the two agreed to improve bilateral ties and cooperation in the future.

But China and North Korea have had an extremely strained relationship under Kim, who had never visited Beijing as leader, unlike his father who made the trip many times.

The White House credited its policy of putting international economic, diplomatic, and military pressure on Pyongyang as having made Kim more willing to meet with foreign leaders.

In April, Kim is set to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae In, and the meeting with Trump is slated for May.

In the meantime, Kim has unilaterally declared he would suspend nuclear and missile testing, though the US will go ahead with its military drills with South Korea.

pulse