This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45302865
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
North Korea visit: Trump calls off Pompeo's trip | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be travelling to North Korea in the immediate future after Donald Trump asked him to call off a planned trip. | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be travelling to North Korea in the immediate future after Donald Trump asked him to call off a planned trip. |
The president said in a tweet that insufficient progress was being made on denuclearising the Korean peninsula. | The president said in a tweet that insufficient progress was being made on denuclearising the Korean peninsula. |
And he suggested China was not doing enough to pressure North Korea - due to trade tensions with the US. | And he suggested China was not doing enough to pressure North Korea - due to trade tensions with the US. |
After his summit with the North Korean leader in June, Mr Trump said the country was no longer a nuclear threat. | After his summit with the North Korean leader in June, Mr Trump said the country was no longer a nuclear threat. |
But since then there have been several reports that it is failing to dismantle nuclear facilities. | But since then there have been several reports that it is failing to dismantle nuclear facilities. |
One of the most recent warnings came from unnamed US officials, who told the Washington Post that North Korea appeared to be building new intercontinental ballistic missiles. | One of the most recent warnings came from unnamed US officials, who told the Washington Post that North Korea appeared to be building new intercontinental ballistic missiles. |
The UN's nuclear agency (IAEA) has also said North Korea is continuing with its nuclear programme. | The UN's nuclear agency (IAEA) has also said North Korea is continuing with its nuclear programme. |
What is Mr Trump's latest line? | What is Mr Trump's latest line? |
Mr Pompeo was due to head to Pyongyang next week with his newly appointed special envoy for North Korea - Stephen Biegun, a retiring Ford executive. | Mr Pompeo was due to head to Pyongyang next week with his newly appointed special envoy for North Korea - Stephen Biegun, a retiring Ford executive. |
It would have been the secretary of state's fourth trip, though he was not expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. | It would have been the secretary of state's fourth trip, though he was not expected to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. |
Mr Trump took a swipe at China in the second of three tweets on the issue. | Mr Trump took a swipe at China in the second of three tweets on the issue. |
China and the US are embroiled in a tit-for-tat tariff war after Mr Trump complained about the size of the US trade deficit with China and what Washington sees as other unfair trade practices. | China and the US are embroiled in a tit-for-tat tariff war after Mr Trump complained about the size of the US trade deficit with China and what Washington sees as other unfair trade practices. |
However, only two days ago Mr Trump said China had been a "big help on North Korea". | However, only two days ago Mr Trump said China had been a "big help on North Korea". |
Mr Pompeo might still make another trip though. | Mr Pompeo might still make another trip though. |
How much of a shift is this? | How much of a shift is this? |
"There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea," Mr Trump tweeted on arriving back in the US from the June summit with Mr Kim in Singapore. | "There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea," Mr Trump tweeted on arriving back in the US from the June summit with Mr Kim in Singapore. |
"Everybody can feel much safer," he said. | "Everybody can feel much safer," he said. |
After the optimism of Singapore, the latest development might seem like quite a change. | After the optimism of Singapore, the latest development might seem like quite a change. |
But there have been ups and downs in the Trump-North Korea relationship since then. | But there have been ups and downs in the Trump-North Korea relationship since then. |
After a visit by Mr Pompeo in July, North Korea condemned his "gangster-like demands", only for another trip to be announced, albeit now cancelled. | After a visit by Mr Pompeo in July, North Korea condemned his "gangster-like demands", only for another trip to be announced, albeit now cancelled. |
And the summit itself was called off in May - Mr Trump citing Pyongyang's "open hostility" - only for it to take place after all. | And the summit itself was called off in May - Mr Trump citing Pyongyang's "open hostility" - only for it to take place after all. |
The US has made clear that it wants to see an end to the North's nuclear activities before it will consider lifting economic sanctions. | The US has made clear that it wants to see an end to the North's nuclear activities before it will consider lifting economic sanctions. |
The summit was seen as possible turning point after a ratcheting up of tensions. | The summit was seen as possible turning point after a ratcheting up of tensions. |
North Korea had carried out a sixth nuclear bomb test in September and boasted of its ability to launch a missile at the United States. | North Korea had carried out a sixth nuclear bomb test in September and boasted of its ability to launch a missile at the United States. |