Lifting sanctions will only come after North Korea denuclearizes: Trump
- 6 years ago
The United States continues to urge North Korea to take steps towards denuclearization... *if it wants relief from crippling sanctions.
This comes as the Trump administration slapped three sets of unilateral sanctions on firms linked to the regime in August alone.
Lee Ji-won has more.
U.S. President Donald Trump is once again reiterating that the denuclearization of North Korea must come before sanctions relief.
President Trump made the remarks at a rally in West Virginia this week, just hours after the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Russian shipping companies for violating North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions.
He also recalled his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June,... once again highlighting the "good chemistry" he has with Kim.
Trump reminded his supporters about how much the situation has changed, from the 'extremely hostile' start he had with Kim, and the grave concerns that there might be a war,... to the North's current cessation of missile or rocket launches.
But President Trump stressed that they will have to see what happens.
He said he hasn't yet lifted massive U.S. sanctions on North Korea, but he wants to take them off quickly.
However, he said for that to happen,... the North Koreans must first abandon their nuclear arsenal.
Just this month, Washington slapped three sets of sanctions on foreign companies and individuals linked to North Korea to further squeeze Pyongyang, demonstrating the Trump administration's strong determination to increase pressure on the regime until it fully denuclearizes.
And on this, Japan has reaffirmed its support as well.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during a briefing on Wednesday that President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a phone call earlier that day, where the two leaders expressed their commitment to maintaining strong sanctions on North Korea.
Sanders also said the two leaders look forward to seeing each other at the UN General Assembly in September, and Trump will continue holding important conversations with Washington's allies.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
This comes as the Trump administration slapped three sets of unilateral sanctions on firms linked to the regime in August alone.
Lee Ji-won has more.
U.S. President Donald Trump is once again reiterating that the denuclearization of North Korea must come before sanctions relief.
President Trump made the remarks at a rally in West Virginia this week, just hours after the U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions on Russian shipping companies for violating North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions.
He also recalled his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June,... once again highlighting the "good chemistry" he has with Kim.
Trump reminded his supporters about how much the situation has changed, from the 'extremely hostile' start he had with Kim, and the grave concerns that there might be a war,... to the North's current cessation of missile or rocket launches.
But President Trump stressed that they will have to see what happens.
He said he hasn't yet lifted massive U.S. sanctions on North Korea, but he wants to take them off quickly.
However, he said for that to happen,... the North Koreans must first abandon their nuclear arsenal.
Just this month, Washington slapped three sets of sanctions on foreign companies and individuals linked to North Korea to further squeeze Pyongyang, demonstrating the Trump administration's strong determination to increase pressure on the regime until it fully denuclearizes.
And on this, Japan has reaffirmed its support as well.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during a briefing on Wednesday that President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a phone call earlier that day, where the two leaders expressed their commitment to maintaining strong sanctions on North Korea.
Sanders also said the two leaders look forward to seeing each other at the UN General Assembly in September, and Trump will continue holding important conversations with Washington's allies.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.