Trump warns North Korea against 'foolish or reckless acts' after canceling the Kim Jong Un summit
- President Donald Trump warned Kim Jong Un against trying anything foolish after he canceled the planned June 12 summit between the two leaders on Thursday in a marked return to the rhetoric of nuclear brinkmanship throughout 2017.
- He then went on to say that he had spoken to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, the leaders of the US military, South Korea, and Japan, and that they all stand ready to respond to "foolish or reckless acts" from North Korea.
- Before the summit's cancellation, Trump and North Korea traded ultimatums, with North Korea saying it could either meet for talks or a nuclear showdown, and Trump and his aides warning that Kim could denuclearize or meet a similar fate to deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
President Donald Trump warned Kim Jong Un against trying anything foolish after he canceled the planned June 12 summit between the two leaders on Thursday in a marked return to the rhetoric of nuclear brinkmanship throughout 2017.
In a letter to Kim officially canceling the summit, Trump said he'd been looking forward to it, but the "tremendous anger and open hostility" in Kim's recent statements ultimately inspired the president to cancel the meeting.
Giving televised remarks later on Thursday, Trump said, "I believe that this is a tremendous setback for North Korea and indeed a setback for the world."
He then went on to say that he had spoken to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, the leaders of the US military, South Korea, and Japan, and that they all stand ready to respond to "foolish or reckless acts" from North Korea.
South Korea and Japan "are not only ready should foolish or reckless acts be taken by North Korea, but they are willing to shoulder much of the cost of any financial burden, and of the cost associated by the US in operations if such an unfortunate situation is forced upon us," Trump said.
"I hope that Kim Jong Un will do what's right, not only for himself, but also for his people who are suffering greatly and needlessly," he added.
Before the summit's cancellation, Trump and North Korea traded ultimatums, with North Korea saying it could either meet for talks or a nuclear showdown, and Trump warning that Kim could denuclearize or meet a similar fate to deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The cancellation seems to have struck South Korea, US journalists in North Korea, and North Korean officials themselves by surprise.