White House National Security Advisor John Boltondismissed the idea that the administration was considering seeking a freeze on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal instead of complete denuclearization.
The New York Times reported last week that the administration of Donald Trump was considering a deal with North Korea to halt the production of new nuclear material in order to bring Kim Jong-unto the negotiating table. In an online written statement, Bolton denied this idea, slamming the Times and commenting that “there should be consequences” for its publishing.
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“I read this NYT story with curiosity. Neither the NSC staff nor I have discussed or heard of any desire to ‘settle for a nuclear freeze by NK,’” Bolton tweeted, describing the report as “a reprehensible attempt by someone to box in the President.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a top GOP official, supported Bolton’s remarks, tweeting, “Glad to see National Security Advisor Bolton push back hard against the NY Times narrative stating the Administration would accept a nuclear freeze as an acceptable outcome by North Korea.”
“To President Trump’s great credit he has the right goal – which is irreversible, verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula – with economic and security guarantees to North Korea in return,” Graham continued. “This is the only win-win situation available for the Korean peninsula, United States, and the world at large. Legitimizing a nuclear arsenal in the hands of an unstable, erratic despot will never be an acceptable outcome.”
The last round of negotiations between Pyeongyang and Washington feel apart as the two leaders were unable to come to an agreement regarding a deal. Their meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, was cut short as Trump left early, fuming at the failed diplomacy. It seems that the president wants another shot, as he has been praising the North Korean leader recently. This weekend Trump became the first American president to ever set foot in North Korea after he and Kim held an impromptu meeting in the demilitarized zone between the North and the South.
