Trump on North Korea at Olympics in South: ‘I’m behind that 100%'
If he doesn’t exercise the nuclear option first, President Trump would welcome North Korea’s participation in next month’s Winter Olympics.
“I'd like to see them getting involved in the Olympics and maybe things go from there,” Trump declared Saturday at Camp David. “So I'm behind that 100%.”
Trump’s comments came after Chang Ung, North Korea’s International Olympic Committee representative, said his nation is likely to send a pair of figure skaters to the global competition coming to Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Ung told Japanese media at the Beijing airport that his nation was likely to send figure skating pair Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik to the Games.
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The duo captured a bronze medal in February 2017 at the Asian Winter Games in Japan.
Chang — who was reportedly headed to meet with IOC officials in Switzerland — declined to say if his nation might send more competitors to South Korea. Opening ceremonies for the Games are set for Feb. 9.
Trump said he spoke with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who supported his bare knuckles handling of their North Korean counterpart.
“He thanked me very much for my tough stance and, you know, for 25 years they haven't been using a tough stance,” said Trump.
The President was far less congenial toward Kim last week after the North Korean leader mentioned his nation’s nuclear program.
“Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” Trump tweeted.
With News Wire Services
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