US to maintain maximum pressure on N. Korea

US President Donald Trump says his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will go forward, but the policy of pressure and sanctions against Pyongyang will continue “at all cost” until it denuclearizes.

In a Twitter message on Wednesday, Trump also said the recent meeting between China’s President Xi Jingping and Kim went very well.

“Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to his meeting with me,” Trump wrote.

“In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all cost,” he added.

After several days of speculation, China announced on Wednesday that Kim has met Xi in Beijing, where Kim reportedly made a pledge to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear program.

The trip was Kim’s first known journey abroad since he took over power in 2011.

The White House said on Tuesday that Beijing briefed…

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