Denuclearization? Not...

Trump predicts Kim will make 'wise decision' on denuclearization

By CAITLIN OPRYSKO

President Donald Trump pushed his case on Monday for the total denuclearization of North Korea, predicting on the eve of his second summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that Kim would ultimately make the "wise decision” to end his nation's nuclear program.

Despite appearing Sunday to temper expectations for his meeting with Kim later this week — telling state governors that “I don’t want to rush anybody” to denuclearize and that “as long as there’s no testing, we’re happy” — Trump on Monday pushed his argument for winding down North Korea’s weapons program sooner rather than later.

“Meeting for breakfast with our Nation’s Governors - then off to Vietnam for a very important Summit with Kim Jong Un,” he tweeted. “With complete Denuclearization, North Korea will rapidly become an Economic Powerhouse. Without it, just more of the same. Chairman Kim will make a wise decision!”

The pressure of Trump’s upcoming meeting with Kim coupled with the minimal progress toward denuclearization that came out of the historic first summit has caused some of the president’s allies to worry that in his eagerness for a deal, Trump will make disproportionate concessions to Kim this week.

Over the weekend, the president attacked critics who said he hasn’t made enough progress in nuclear talks with North Korea, arguing that his White House has taken greater strides toward ending the nuclear threat from North Korea than other administrations.

He has continued to make the economic argument for denuclearization as well, writing Sunday that “Chairman Kim realizes, perhaps better than anyone else, that without nuclear weapons, his country could fast become one of the great economic powers anywhere in the World.”

The pessimism surrounding this week’s summit in Vietnam has grown prevalent enough that North Korea’s state-run media outlet addressed it over the weekend, imploring Trump to ignore the naysayers, according to Reuters.