White House: We Will Maintain Severe Sanctions Against North Korea

Sarah Sanders, the White House spokesperson, stated on Monday, June 4, that the U.S. policy regarding the imposition of severe sanctions against North Korea has not changed. This comes after Donald Trump, the President of the United States, said on Friday following a meeting with a senior North Korean official at the White House that Pyongyang is now cooperating more, and although sanctions against North Korea will remain in place, no new sanctions will be imposed. The U.S. President also added that he no longer wishes to use the term 'maximum pressure' in relation to North Korea, as the two countries are working towards a resolution. According to Reuters, the White House spokesperson responded to a journalist's question regarding the continuation of the 'maximum pressure' approach against North Korea, stating that very powerful sanctions are currently in effect and will not be lifted unless North Korea denuclearizes. U.S. officials claim that 'maximum pressure' through severe sanctions supported by the UN and global powers has brought North Korea to the negotiating table. However, Sarah Sanders added that preparations for a meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, are well underway, and the two leaders will meet on June 12 at 9 AM Singapore time. In response to a journalist's question regarding a letter from the North Korean leader, Sanders said she did not want to go into details but could say that they believe issues are moving in the right direction and significant progress has been made so far. On Friday, Kim Yong-chol, a key advisor to the North Korean leader, delivered a letter from Kim Jong Un to Donald Trump at the White House. In this context, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis also stated on Saturday that the lifting and suspension of current sanctions against North Korea will only occur after the country takes irreversible and clear steps towards denuclearization.