Pressed On Trump Tweet, WH Offers No Proof NK Has 'Agreed To Denuclearization'

Source: Talking Points Memo

By Matt Shuham | April 23, 2018 2:31 pm

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday walked back President Donald Trump’s claim the previous day that North Korea had “agreed to denuclearization” ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Based on what is known publicly, Trump’s claim appears to be false. So far, North Korea has only announced that it has halted nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile testing and suspended a nuclear test site. South Korean President Moon Jae-in told reporters last week that “North Korea is expressing a will for a complete denuclearization,” but that’s a long way from actually acting on such a desire.

At a press briefing Monday, ABC News’ Jonathan Karl asked about Trump’s tweet. “Where did they [agree to denuclearize]?” he asked. “Have they already agreed to do that?”

“Certainly in a number of the conversations, including the comments I would refer you back to,” Sanders said, without specifying which comments she was referencing. “Also, South Korean President Moon, who has said that North Korea has expressed a will for complete denuclearization, and certainly that’s the focus of any conversation and negotiation that the United States will have with North Korea.”



Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/pressed-on-trump-tweet-wh-offers-no-proof-nk-has-agreed-to-denuclearization