Why has Trump today reversed sanctions on North Korea following his failed Summit Meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un?
President Trump said Friday he would reverse sanctions against North Korea that were recently announced by the Treasury Department, a surprise declaration that sparked confusion in Washington and raised fresh doubts about the White House’s policy process. Trump said that “it was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions” would be imposed in addition to “already existing Sanctions on North Korea.” “I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!” the president added.
In a brief statement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders attributed the decision to Trump’s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“President Trump likes Chairman Kim (Little Rockey Man?) and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary”.
Regardless of the target, it is remarkable that Trump would publicly rebuke an effort by his own Treasury Department to sanction a major U.S. adversary.
Trump has appeared more upbeat than members of his own administration and foreign policy experts about his ability to reach a deal with the elusive Kim.
Trump’s rationale for reversing the sanctions appeared to directly contradict his own national security adviser, John Bolton, who argued Thursday they were a significant step toward ensuring North Korea remains isolated over its nuclear ambitions.
The president’s surprise statement came weeks after the conclusion of his failed nuclear summit with Kim, which threw his attempt to broker a historic nuclear deal with the authoritarian head of state into doubt. In response to mounting evidence North Korea is rebuilding key missile sites, Trump said earlier this month he would be “very disappointed” in Kim if they were, in fact, being rebuilt, but added that “I don’t think I will be.”
