Trump Hopes for North Korea Deals, But Rules Out Sanctions Relief

Trump continues to insist sanctions are at a 'fair level'

While President Trump continues to give at least superficial lip-service to wanting new diplomatic process with North Korea, including possible “small deals” in the future, it appears he is also heavily committed to the status quo of sanctions and hostility.

“There are various smaller deals that maybe could happen,” Trump told reporters, though he reiterated that there could be no sanctions relief, because he is personally convinced that the current sanctions are at “a fair level.”

Trump also says the main goal is to get rid of all North Korean nuclear weapons, and that once that happens North Korea has “potential as great as anything.” But between now and then, Trump seems unwilling to give them anything even for smaller deals.

Trump also appeared to warn South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in against continuing to try to establish trade with North Korea, saying “this isn’t the right time.” By all indications this is something South Korea would already have done, but for US demands that they not.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.