May 17, 2018
Seeking to move forward with a planned high-profile summit, President Trump said Thursday that Kim Jong-un can count on "protections that will be very strong" if North Korea agrees to get rid of nuclear weapons — but also seemed to threaten regime change if it doesn't.

The president appeared to be talking about a possible American pledge not to invade or otherwise try to topple Kim's government, as happened in recent decades in Libya and Iraq. As for Kim, Trump said at one point, "he'd be there; he'd be in his country; he'd be running his country."
Yet the president also during somewhat rambling comments that the Libya model "would take place if we don't make a deal, most likely."
Trump also told reporters that the North Koreans have not officially notified the White House about any problems that could scuttle the summit, even though Kim's state media has threatened twice in recent days to cancel the event.
“Nothing has changed on North Korea that we know of," Trump said during a photo opportunity with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "We have not been told anything ... If the meeting happens, it happens.”
If it doesn't, he added, "we go on to the next step."
Trump didn't specify what that next step would be, but in recent months he has pressured China and other countries to cut off money to North Korea unless and until it gives up nuclear weapons.
Less than a week after Trump announced he would meet Kim on June 12 in Singapore, the North Koreans threatened to cancel the plan over two complaints: Ongoing joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, and the Trump administration's insistence that North Korea end its nuclear weapons programs without some kind of compensation.
The North Koreans have long considered the joint exercises to be a prelude to an invasion; the U.S. and South Koreans have said the exercises are defensive in nature and have been conducted for years.
Trump and aides responded by saying North Korea will have to decide whether the proposed summit comes as scheduled.
"The president is prepared and will be ready to meet," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. "If the North Koreans want to meet, we’ll be there.”
In raising concerns about the meeting and Trump's demand for denuclearization, North Korea cited the fate of Libya. In 2003, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi gave up programs for weapons of mass destruction; eight years later, he was deposed and killed after a rebellion sparked by the Arab Spring.
"If the U.S. is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the DPRK-U.S. summit," said a translated statement from North Korea.
In downplaying North Korea's threats, Trump noted that the objections came after Kim met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump suggested that Kim is getting advice from Xi, who has a vested interest in what happens with his communist allies in North Korea.
"With that being said, my attitude is whatever happens happens," Trump said. "Either way, we're going to be in great shape."
Kim's government cited comments in particular by Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton that Libya could serve as a model for North Korean disarmament.
Trump appeared to undercut Bolton by saying the model for Kim and North Korea should be South Korea and its economic development, not Libya. But Bolton was referring to the negotiations that preceded Libya's decision in 2003 to give up its weapons, not to the 2011 coup that killed Gadhafi.
In any event, Trump said he is willing to address some of North Korea's concerns.
"If we make a deal," he said, "I think Kim Jong Un is going to be very, very happy."
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.