U.S. President Donald Trump said that he’d be “disappointed” if Pyongyang is cooking up a surprise “in the works” as the year-end ultimatum of their nuclear talks approaches. However, Trump remains confident that whatever North Korea might put on the table, it will be taken care of.
“We'll see. I'd be disappointed if something would be in the works,” President Donald Trump said, according to Channel News Asia. “And if it is, we'll take care of it.”
The president also confirmed that the government has been monitoring the situation. “We're watching it very closely,” Trump added.
Since the collapse of the Hanoi talks between Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, nuclear negotiations between the two countries haven’t moved forward. Lately, Pyongyang has been posturing and has been promised a “Christmas gift” if the American government won’t agree to concessions.
According to US envoy Stephen Biegun, North Korea has been “hostile and negative” in its latest statements. For instance, Pyongyang stated that the U.S. needs to make an acceptable offer. Otherwise, it will adopt a “new way,” which it did not bother to clarify, the Guardian reported.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper is concerned about North Korea’s rhetoric lately. “It’s a concern – their rhetoric,” Esper told reporters. He surmised that the country will likely carry out more missile testing if it is unsatisfied with Washington’s conditions.
“We have seen talk of tests. I think that they will be likely if they don’t feel satisfied,” Esper explained. North Korea carried out tests this month at the Sohae rocket facility and also did a number of weapons launches.
What worried some experts is the possibility that Pyongyang might resume its intercontinental ballistic missile program (ICBM). The move would be perceived as highly provocative by Washington which could further increase tension between the two countries.
Esper, who is experienced in dealing with the country, suggests that Washington should get serious with the talks and get the ball rolling. “I’ve been watching the Korean Peninsula for maybe a quarter of a century now,” he said. “So I’m familiar with their tactics, with their bluster and I think we need to get serious and sit down and have discussions about a political agreement that denuclearizes the Peninsula”