Trump confirms CIA director's meeting with Kim Jong Un to discuss upcoming summit

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump confirms CIA Director Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong Un Mike Pompeo, the current CIA Director, is already flexing the muscles needed should he become Secretary of State, taking part in a secret meeting with North Korea, despite still requiring confirmation. Nathan Rousseau Smith has the story.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump confirmed Wednesday that CIA Director Mike Pompeo traveled secretly to North Korea recently to meet with Kim Jong Un about plans for an upcoming summit between the two leaders.

"Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed," Trump tweeted on the second day of meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that included talk about trade as well as North Korea. "Details of Summit are being worked out now."

Trump also made clear in the early-morning tweet what his demands of the North Korean leader would be: "Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!"

Later, before a session with Abe, Trump told reporters that Pompeo's mission to North Korea should help him win confirmation as secretary of State, and he urged wavering senators to back him.

Pompeo's nomination to be the nation's top diplomat currently is tied up in the Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority and numerous Democrats have announced their opposition.

North Korea's nuclear weapons are a prime topic of this week's meetings at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. After a round of a golf at a nearby Trump-owned course, Trump and Abe huddled behind closed doors ahead of a press conference later in the day.

During a brief photo opportunity, Trump said he and Abe would discuss trade disputes. The president said he wants to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, partly by having it buy more American military equipment and other products.

Abe, meanwhile, has protested the Trump administration's decision to place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The Japanese leader, who did not speak during the photo session, planned to ask Trump for the kind of exemption other countries have received.

On Tuesday, the president hinted at Pompeo's trip, acknowledging direct talks "at very high levels, extremely high levels, with North Korea." Aides later said those talks, which occurred over Easter weekend, did not involve Trump himself.

Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018

In a meeting with Abe, Trump repeated that he plans to meet with Kim, perhaps in early June. But he also raised the possibility that the summit might be called off if there is no agreement on an agenda.

"It’s possible things won’t go well and we won’t have the meetings, and we’ll just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken," he said. The reference was to economic sanctions against the North; Trump has lobbied China and other countries to cut off economic assistance.

Trump said officials are evaluating "five locations" as possible summit sites, but he did not name them.

The president also said Tuesday that he supports talks between North Korea and South Korea over formally ending the state of war that has lasted more than six decades.

Trump and Abe also are discussing the fate of Japanese citizens whom Abe said have been kidnapped in North Korea.

"Shinzo and I have developed a very close relationship," Trump said of his guest as their summit opened. "We speak all the time. And our nations, I think, have never been closer than they are right now."

Abe -- who has disputed some of Trump's trade policies and is worried about Japanese security in light of Kim's nuclear tests and threats -- thanked Trump for "a very in-depth discussion, focusing on the issue of North Korea and also the economic issues."

In a tweet late Tuesday, Trump poured cold water on the idea that the United States might re-join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trading bloc that includes Japan and 10 other Pacific Rim countries. Trump said he prefers one-to-one trade agreements with countries like Japan.

"While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don’t like the deal for the United States," Trump said. "Too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesn’t work. Bilateral deals are far more efficient, profitable and better for OUR workers." (South Korea is not a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.)

Nothing could better underscore the importance of getting America's top diplomat in place for such a time as this. Dems have an opportunity to put politics aside, acknowledge our national security is too important, and confirm Mike Pompeo. Statesmanship. https://t.co/HiClCEnP3B — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) April 18, 2018



