Politics

Trump Sets Stage For Summit With North Korea Despite Cancellations

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque and Korea Summit Press Pool/File Photos

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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President Donald Trump revealed that U.S. diplomats have arrived in North Korea to conduct meetings preparing for a summit between himself and Kim Jong Un.

Trump’s revelation is the latest in a string of dizzying about-faces from the administration and North Korea in recent days. The president initially canceled the June 12 summit between himself and Kim Jong Un after revelations that the North Koreans had not responded to several U.S. communication attempts and made disparaging remarks about Vice President Mike Pence.

“Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate at this time, to have this long planned meeting,” Trump said in a Thursday letter canceling the summit. Trump, however, began to note later in the day and on Friday that a June 12 summit would be possible.

Kim Jong Un then met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Saturday in a bid to have the summit back on. The initial meetings between the U.S. and North Korea suggest the initial date of June 12 could still be on for a summit between the two leaders in Singapore.