With just weeks to go before President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are expected to hold their first-ever summit, Pyongyang on Sunday criticized what it called “misleading” claims that Trump’s policy of maximum political pressure and sanctions are what drove the North to the negotiating table. “The U.S. is deliberately provoking the DPRK at the time when the situation on the Korean Peninsula is moving toward peace and reconciliation,” the spokesman was quoted as saying. Sunday’s comments were among the very few the North has made since Trump agreed in March to the meeting. He also criticized Washington for its ongoing “pressure and military threats” and its position that such pressure won’t be eased until North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons completely. Trump hinted the release of Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim was in the offing.

Source: Hindustan Times May 06, 2018 06:00 UTC