Trump says he would invite Kim Jong Un to the US if Singapore talks go well

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U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oval Office of the White House on June 7, 2018.

The summit brings the opportunity for a potential breakthrough in talks to reduce tension in East Asia. However, the North Korean regime has long proven unreliable in international negotiations, sparking concerns about what concessions Trump and American allies such as Abe can get from Pyongyang.

Further stoking concerns in America is Trump’s preparedness for the summit. Earlier, he raised those fears by saying, “I don’t think I have to prepare very much” for the summit.

On Thursday, Trump said he stopped using the “maximum pressure” language previously employed to describe international economic sanctions against North Korea, “because we’re going into a friendly negotiation.” When Trump stopped using the term in recent days, it reportedly concerned Abe.

The Japanese prime minister said Thursday that Trump will not lift “very strong sanctions” on North Korea until it takes actions toward denuclearization. He added that he wants any deal between Trump and Kim to address all weapons of mass destruction and midrange ballistic missiles.

Trump stressed that he kept all existing economic sanctions on North Korea. The president has a long list of new sanctions prepared, should talks go awry, he said.

“Maximum pressure is absolutely in effect,” he said.

Abe also said he stressed to Trump the need to bring up Japanese citizens being held hostage in North Korea during the summit next week. He said the president “fully understands” the issue’s importance.

Later Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the “complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the only outcome we will find acceptable.” Kim personally “indicated” to Pompeo that he is prepared to denuclearize, the top American diplomat said.

Pompeo said Trump is “hopeful” but is “going into the summit with his eyes wide open” about possible duplicity.