Trump administration remains vague on future of North Korea summit
On Tuesday, the question of whether the summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place as scheduled on June 12 in Singapore remained unresolved. Trump administration officials including the president, the secretary of state and the White House press secretary offered vague responses when asked whether the summit will happen as planned.
While Mr. Trump did say in an Oval Office meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he believes North Korea is "serious" about denuclearization, he also had this update for reporters: "There are certain conditions that we want, and I think we'll get those conditions. And if we don't, we don't have the meeting," he said. He added, "If it doesn't happen, maybe it will happen later. Maybe it will happen at a different time. But we will see."
Mr. Trump went on to say, "We are talking," and "whether or not it happens, you'll be knowing pretty soon."
Just hours after Mr. Trump suggested that the meeting to discuss denuclearization might not happen, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave a similarly uncertain answer when asked about the summit.
"We'll see what happens, we continue to prepare for the summit, and if they want to meet, we will certainly be ready, and the president, I think rightly stated that if North Korea agrees to denuclearize, that it can be a bright future for them, but we remain clear-eyed in these negotiations," she told reporters in Tuesday's press briefing.
CBS News' Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett asked how Mr. Trump is preparing for the summit.
"He spent a significant amount of time meeting both in person and having regular phone conversations with other world leaders, as you saw today with South Korean President Moon," Sanders said. "As well, he has constant and regular meetings with his national security team, this is something they talk about on a daily basis."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also addressed the issue with reporters at the State Department, telling them that the focus within the Trump administration now is not when the meeting will happen, but rather what it will take to make the meeting a success.
"We will do what it takes to make sure that this is a successful meeting," he said.
Pompeo said that he's "optimistic" as the administration continues to work toward the originally scheduled June 12 date.
"As the president said, 'We'll see,' and I think that's the place that we find ourselves," he said.