More than a month after Pyongyang launched its highest long-range ballistic missile test — U.S. officials are now bracing for another – in just a matter of days.
CGTN’s Jessica Stone has the latest.
Kim Jong-Un used his New Year’s Day address to ask the Republic of Korea to return to talks ahead of the Winter Olympics in the R.O.K. Seoul responded on Tuesday and suggested high-level talks take place next week.
Sanctions and “other” pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not – we will see!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018
And while U.S. President Donald Trump signaled in a tweet those talks could be “good news” — the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Ambassador Nikki Haley, was less optimistic.
“North Korea can talk with anyone they want, but the U.S. is not gonna recognize it or acknowledge it until they agree to ban the nuclear weapons that they have,” Haley said.
The White House says it plans to put “maximum pressure” on Pyongyang… no matter what other countries decide to do.
The Korean peninsula is not the only concern for the U.S. President Trump. He isn’t letting up — on his support for the demonstrations in Iran either.
The people of Iran are finally acting against the brutal and corrupt Iranian regime. All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their “pockets.” The people have little food, big inflation and no human rights. The U.S. is watching!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018
Despite accusations from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei that outside influences are stoking the protests, the White House appears unconcerned.
“President Trump won’t sit by silently like President Obama did, said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. “He supports Iranian people. and wants to make that clear.”
Trump is weighing in on the Iran protests just ahead of a mid-January deadline to again re-certify the Iran deal and waive the sanctions. His refusal to do so back in October has been an additional source of anger and disappointment for Iranians.
“We certainly keep our options open in terms of sanctions,” said Sanders. “In terms of signing a waiver later in January, The president hasn’t made a final decision on that.”
The White House is doubling down on accusations, first made by presidential tweet, that Pakistan is harboring terrorists. Islamabad has called the tweet: “completely incomprehensible.”
The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2018
“We know that Pakistan can do more to fight terrorism and we want them to step up and do that,” said Sanders.
The U.S. is extending its hold on more than $250 million in promised assistance to Pakistan as a result.