US official says Trump does not view talks with N. Korea as 'concession'
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump does not view talks with North Korea as a "concession" and is willing to engage Pyongyang if doing so serves U.S. national interests, the State Department spokesperson said Friday. Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the State Department, made the remarks when asked how the U.S. government is supporting Trump's stated willingness to meet Kim amid renewed attention to the prospects of diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. "The determination comes from a president who doesn't believe talking to someone is a concession," Pigott said during a meeting with foreign reporters in Washington. "If it's in our national interest to talk to someone, he's going to talk with them." Trump has recently expressed his intention to meet Kim later this year, with the White House reiterating that the president remains open to talks with the North Korean leader "without any preconditions." Pigott also said the U.S. remains committed to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea. "Our policy regarding the complete denuclearization of North Korea remains the same,"
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