N.Korea says Trump was open to easing sanctions with 'snapback' clause: S.Korean media

By Reuters March 25, 2019 | 05:24 pm PT

Hyon Song Wol, head of the North Korean Samjiyon art troupe takes a photo of Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Son-Hui (C) ahead of the welcoming ceremony of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (not pictured) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam March 1, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Luong Thai Linh

U.S. President Donald Trump was open to easing sanctions on North Korea provided there was a 'snapback' clause if the North restarted nuclear activities.

According to South Korean media reports of a North Korean statement from a March 15 news conference by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, Trump had a "flexible position" on the issue during his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month.

However, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton "created an obstacle", South Korean news agencies Yonhap and Newsis reported late on Monday.

The second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi broke down without resolution but North Korea has continued to speak positively about Trump. Choe said relations between the two leaders were still good and that "the chemistry is mysteriously wonderful", according to news reports from the media conference in Pyongyang.

News reports at the time did not mention Choe saying Trump had been flexible about easing sanctions on North Korea provided there was a 'snapback' clause. There was no explanation for the apparent omission.

Trump said on Friday he decided against imposing new large-scale sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons programme.

He has stressed since the collapse of the Feb. 27-28 summit his good personal relationship with Kim. His administration has repeatedly said it was willing to reengage, although there has been no sign of direct contact between Washington and Pyongyang.

However, Choe criticised Pompeo and Bolton, with the new statement saying they had created obstacles to constructive negotiations between the two leaders "out of pre-existing hostility and mistrust." That was in line with earlier reports.

Bolton told reporters outside the White House at the time that Choe's statement was "inaccurate."

The new statement also says Kim "faced much opposition and challenges" from within North Korea in order to make the second summit happen. " ... our people, especially our military and munitions industry, are saying we must never give up nuclear capabilities," it said, according to Yonhap.