In a series of tweets before his meeting with Kim Jong Un, President Trump suggested North Korea would be willing to ditch its nuclear weapons because of the economic benefits that would come with the move.
“Chairman Kim realizes, perhaps better than anyone else, that without nuclear weapons, his country could fast become one of the great economic powers anywhere in the World. Because of its location and people (and him), it has more potential for rapid growth than any other nation!” Trump posted on Twitter on Sunday.
He is meeting with Kim in Vietnam on Tuesday and Wednesday, a follow up to their first summit last summer in Singapore.
Trump credited Chinese President Xi Jinping with helping keep lines of communications open with Kim because it’s in his best interest.
“The last thing China wants are large scale nuclear weapons right next door. Sanctions placed on the border by China and Russia have been very helpful,” Trump wrote. “Great relationship with Chairman Kim!”
The president also raised the possibility that he and Kim would be able reach a landmark deal.
“Very productive talks yesterday with China on Trade. Will continue today!,” he wrote, highlighting the talks his administration is having with Chinese officials on trade.
“I will be leaving for Hanoi, Vietnam, early tomorrow for a Summit with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, where we both expect a continuation of the progress made at first Summit in Singapore. Denuclearization?,” Trump concluded.
About four hours later, he returned to the subject of North Korea.
“So funny to watch people who have failed for years, they got NOTHING, telling me how to negotiate with North Korea. But thanks anyway!” he wrote.
Meanwhile, state media in North Korea accused Democrats and the US intelligence community of trying to derail the talks.
“The Democratic Party of the U.S. and other opponents to the negotiations move overtly and covertly to disrupt them as supported by skepticism backed by all sorts of groundless stories and misinformation even at such a crucial moment as now,” state news agency KCNA said in an editorial, according to Reuters.
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, testifying before a congressional panel last month, said Kim’s regime won’t give up its nuclear arsenal.
“We currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities, and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities,” Coats said. “Our assessment is bolstered by our observations of some activity that is inconsistent with full denuclearization.”
Coats said Kim sees the nukes as necessary for “regime survival.”