Trump says Pompeo headed to North Korea to prepare for Kim Jong Un summit

President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday afternoon that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was flying to North Korea, where he will continue preparations for Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"At this very moment, Secretary Pompeo is on his way to North Korea in preparation for my upcoming meeting with Kim Jong Un. Plans are being made, relationships are building," Trump said during remarks that were otherwise focused on his decision to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal. "Hopefully, a deal will happen. And with the help of China, South Korea, and Japan, a future of great prosperity and security can be achieved for everyone."


Pompeo’s trip to North Korea is his second in recent months and his first since being confirmed as secretary of state. Pompeo also traveled to North Korea earlier this year, a trip that was secret at the time and only later confirmed by the White House, including with the release of photos of the then-CIA director shaking hands with Kim.

In response to a shouted question from a reporter, Trump reiterated that a date and location for his meeting with Kim have been set, although he declined to share further details. He added that “we will soon be finding out” if the three Americans currently held as prisoners in North Korea will be freed, saying that “it would be a great thing if they are.”

“Everything is picked. And we look forward to having a very great success. We think relationships are building with North Korea,” the president said. “We’ll see how it all works out. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. But it can be a great thing for North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and the entire world.”

Pompeo is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit North Korea since then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong Un’s father and predecessor as North Korea’s leader, in 2000.