While Don John continues to bask in the self-glorification of his many successes Xi Jinping, the president of China, has stated he will not sign on to any trade deal that hurts his country. At best, some reports now say, that Xi will meet privately with Trump and force the American into a three-month suspension of the trade war while the sides cool down .. averting more damage caused by Trump to the world economy.
Things are not going so well in the great deal maker’s effort to woo North Korea. As U.S. sanctions continue to choke the renegade country’s economy and as North Korea enters a drought, North Korea and China are ignoring Mr. 45 and moving ahead as if Trump did not exist. (see box to the left)
(excerpted with edits from US News) Meanwhile, Kim’s foreign ministry said the U.S. “viciously slandered” the country, citing the recent release of State Department reports about human trafficking and religious freedom that rank North Korea poorly, and Pompeo’s comments on Sunday reiterating that 80 percent of North Korea’s economy remains under U.S. sanctions.
“It would be difficult to look forward to the improvement of bilateral relations and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula as long as American politics are dominated by the policy-makers who have an inveterate antagonism towards the DPRK,” the statement read, using North Korea’s preferred acronym for itself. “If anyone dares to trample over our sovereignty and the right to existence, we will never hesitate to pull a muscle-flexing trigger in order to defend ourselves.”
Thursday’s statement blasted Pompeo for “sophistry” and said that his comments are “full of falsehoods and fabrications.” North Korean officials have previously said they will no longer negotiate with Pompeo, accusing him of “talking nonsense” and being “reckless.” Pompeo has responded that the North Koreans don’t get to decide the composition of the U.S. delegation.
Trump plans to travel to South Korea after the summit, where White House officials will reportedly try to broker a third summit between the two leaders. However, Mr. 45 sees it, North Korean officials said Wednesday that South Korea must cease serving as a mediator between Pyongyang and Washington.