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A US Department of State official says a planned trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to North Korea has been postponed. The official told Japanese TV NHK that the postponement was the result of discussions between President Donald Trump and security officials.
US president Donald Trump said on Twitter on Friday that he asked Pompeo not to go to North Korea, as he feels sufficient progress has not been made with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Trump said he does not believe that China is helping with the denuclearization process as much as it was before, because of his much tougher stance on trade with China.
I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 24, 2018
Earlier on Thursday, Pompeo had told reporters he would visit North Korea next week.
Pompeo said using diplomacy to resolve the North Korean security threat remains one of Trump’s greatest priorities.
Trump added on Twitter that Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after the trade dispute with China is resolved.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who is visiting San Francisco, spoke with Pompeo by phone. Pompeo explained the reason for the postponement and sought Japan’s understanding.
They reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will work closely together to make North Korea take concrete steps to denuclearize.