Mike Pompeo says he won’t push for regime change in North Korea as Donald Trump thanks China for helping set up meeting
‘President Trump isn’t one to play games at the negotiating table – and I won’t be either,’ Pompeo told the Senate
Prospective US Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo on Thursday dismissed the idea of taking down Kim Jong-un’s regime in North Korea, as Trump himself said a meeting would come soon.
“I’m not advocating regime change” in North Korea, Pompeo – who is currently director of the Central Intelligence Agency and is considered a hawk on North Korea and Iran – said in his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday.
In reference to a planned meeting between Trump and Kim in May or early June, Pompeo said: “President Trump isn’t one to play games at the negotiating table – and I won’t be either.”
Separately, Trump on Thursday commended China for helping set up a meeting with Kim, a process that is ongoing.
“They have really been a great help to us at the border with North Korea,” Trump said of China. “They’ve been really terrific at helping us get to some kind of settlement.
“Meetings are being set up right now between myself and Kim Jong-un. I think it will be terrific. I think we’ll go in with a lot of respect and we’ll see what happens.”