Exclusive: Trump says Russia helping North Korea skirt sanctions; Pyongyang getting close on missile

[webfact]

Exclusive: Trump says Russia helping North Korea skirt sanctions; Pyongyang getting close on missile

By Steve Holland, Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 17, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday Russia is helping North Korea evade international sanctions and that Pyongyang is getting "closer every day" to being able to deliver a long-range missile to the United States.

 

"Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea," Trump said during an Oval Office interview with Reuters. "What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing."

 

China and Russia both signed onto the latest rounds of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea imposed last year. There was no immediate comment from the Russian embassy in Washington on Trump's remarks.

 

During a 53-minute interview with a fresh Diet Coke near at hand on his desk, Trump also said he was considering a big "fine" as part of an investigation into China's alleged theft of intellectual property; that he has lost all trust in the chief Democratic Party negotiator on immigration in the Senate; and declined to clear up conflicting reports about his use of the phrase "shithole countries" in a White House meeting, which caused an international outcry.

 

With North Korea persisting as the major global challenge facing Trump this year, the president cast doubt on whether talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be useful. In the past he has not ruled out direct talks with Kim.

 

"I'd sit down, but I'm not sure that sitting down will solve the problem," he said, noting that past negotiations with the North Koreans by his predecessors had failed to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

 

He blamed his three immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, for failing to resolve the crisis and, a day after his doctor gave him a perfect score on a cognitive test, suggested he had the mental acuity to solve it.

 

"I guess they all realized they were going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests," he said.

 

He declined to comment when asked whether he had engaged in any communications at all with Kim, with whom he has exchanged public insults and threats, heightening tensions in the region.

 

Trump said he hoped the standoff with Pyongyang could be resolved "in a peaceful way, but it’s very possible that it can’t."

 

Trump praised China for its efforts to restrict oil and coal supplies to North Korea but said Beijing could do much more to help constrain Pyongyang.

 

The White House last week welcomed news that imports to China from North Korea, which counts on Beijing as its main economic partner, plunged in December to their lowest in dollar terms since at least the start of 2014.

 

'THEY GET CLOSER EVERY DAY'

 

But Trump said Russia appears to be filling in the gaps left by the Chinese.

 

Western European security sources told Reuters in late December that Russian tankers had supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three occasions in recent months by transferring cargoes at sea in violation of international sanctions. Russia has denied breaching North Korea sanctions.

 

North Korea relies on imported fuel to keep its struggling economy functioning. It also requires oil for its intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear programme.

 

Trump has repeatedly blamed a U.S. investigation into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election for hindering an improvement in U.S.-Russian relations.

 

"He can do a lot," Trump said of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But unfortunately we don't have much of a relationship with Russia, and in some cases it's probable that what China takes back, Russia gives. So the net result is not as good as it could be."

 

Andrew Weiss, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Moscow does not share the depth of U.S. concerns over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. “It’s simply not the case, if Trump’s hands were not tied on Russia, that he and Putin could magically work together to solve the Korea crisis.”

 

The size of Russia’s economic relationship with North Korea was dwarfed by the North's relationship with China. "It seems unlikely that Russia is somehow stepping into those shoes,” Weiss said.

 

Trump, who has grappled with nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by North Korea since he took office a year ago, said Pyongyang is steadily advancing in its ability to deliver a missile to the United States.

 

"They're not there yet, but they're close. And they get closer every day," said Trump.

 

North Korea said after its last intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November that the test had put the U.S. mainland within range. Some experts agreed that based on the missile’s trajectory and distance it had the capability to fly as far as Washington D.C.

 

They said, however, that North Korea had not yet offered any proof that it had mastered all technical hurdles, including development of a re-entry vehicle needed to deliver a heavy nuclear warhead reliably atop an ICBM, but it was likely that it soon would. Pyongyang could reach that milestone by the end of the year, some intelligence officials said.

 

Trump said he welcomed talks between North and South Korea over the Winter Olympics to be held in the South next month and said this could be an initial phase in helping defuse the crisis.

 

He would not say whether the United States has been considering a limited, pre-emptive attack to show the North that the United States means business.

 

"We're playing a very, very hard game of poker and you don't want to reveal your hand," he said.

 

'TOUGH-TALKING'

 

Trump also gave the clearest indication yet that his administration will take retaliatory trade action against China.

 

Trump and his economic adviser Gary Cohn, who was also in the Oval Office, said China had forced U.S. companies to transfer their intellectual property to China as a cost of doing business there.

 

The United States has started a trade investigation into the issue, and Cohn said the United States Trade Representative would be making recommendations about it soon.

 

"We have a very big intellectual property potential fine going, which is going to come out soon," Trump said in the interview.

 

Trump said the damages could be high, without elaborating on how the numbers were reached or how the costs would be imposed.

 

Trump was also asked about a private gathering with a bipartisan group of senators last week at which he was reported to have used a vulgar term to describe Haiti and African nations. He would not confirm whether he had said "shithole countries," but described it as a "tough-talking" meeting.

 

He said he had "lost all trust" in Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, one of the participants who later talked publicly about Trump's comments during the meeting.

 

Trump criticized a proposed bipartisan deal on protecting children of illegal immigrants from deportation, calling it "horrible." A deal was still possible by a March 5 deadline but that "time is running out," he added.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Roberta Rampton, Ayesha Rascoe, Jim Oliphant,; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Warren Strobel; Editing by Ross Colvin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-01-18

[darksidedog]

Another tank of hot air released. Big on promises of action but worth absolutely nothing in terms of reality.

[Samui Bodoh]

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

He blamed his three immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, for failing to resolve the crisis and, a day after his doctor gave him a perfect score on a cognitive test, suggested he had the mental acuity to solve it.

 

"I guess they all realized they were going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests," he said.

 

"...I guess they all realized they were going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests..."

 

As he did well on the cognitive tests, he has the ability to solve the N Korea nuclear issue?

 

What a stupid, stupid man. It is very scary that he has the nuclear codes...

 

 

[mamypoko]

Putin let him say that?

[Scott]

Off-topic posts removed.  

[jayboy]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

 

"...I guess they all realized they were going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests..."

 

As he did well on the cognitive tests, he has the ability to solve the N Korea nuclear issue?

 

What a stupid, stupid man. It is very scary that he has the nuclear codes...

 

 

Yes all true  ... but from a different kind of man maybe - say Obama and Bush who both had a good sense of humour - that would be genuinely a funny joke.

[Stargeezr]

I also bet that a lot of Russia materials are in those NK missles, fuel, parts, and much much more.

Just saying!

Geezer

[geriatrickid]

40 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

I also bet that a lot of Russia materials are in those NK missles, fuel, parts, and much much more. Just saying!

Geezer

You will find that Chinese and Pakistani components are present too. Much of   NK's  expertise was traded for with Pakistan.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...I guess they all realized they were going to have to leave it to a president that scored the highest on tests..."

 

As he did well on the cognitive tests, he has the ability to solve the N Korea nuclear issue?

 

What a stupid, stupid man. It is very scary that he has the nuclear codes...

Well, his cognitive test results should put to rest the spurious claims that he has dementia, shouldn't they?

So far, he's done no worse than the previous 8 occupants of the oval office.

He's not stupid. Ignorance, particularly willful ignorance is quite different than stupidity. President Trump was wily and smart enough to have been elected  President.

 

[stevenl]

11 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

You will find that Chinese and Pakistani components are present too. Much of   NK's  expertise was traded for with Pakistan.

 

 

 

Well, his cognitive test results should put to rest the spurious claims that he has dementia, shouldn't they?

So far, he's done no worse than the previous 8 occupants of the oval office.

He's not stupid. Ignorance, particularly willful ignorance is quite different than stupidity. President Trump was wily and smart enough to have been elected  President.

 

"So far, he's done no worse than the previous 8 occupants of the oval office."

To a certain extend correct, mainly because he hasn't done much.

[spidermike007]

It is a strange, and bizarre day when the circus clown criticizes his dear friend, King Vlad. I am not sure I have ever heard him be critical of Russia. He is usually their greatest cheerleader. He always comes to their defense. My belief is that there is little doubt they have alot of dirt on the charlatan, and he is very, very afraid of Russia. So what gives? Why all of a sudden is he seeing Russia for what they are? A true enemy of the state. Something is strange in Washington. Maybe Mr. Unstable, definitely not a genius, has finally gotten some common sense? Or maybe he finally listened to someone with some wisdom? 

[mrwebb8825]

19 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It is a strange, and bizarre day when the circus clown criticizes his dear friend, King Vlad. I am not sure I have ever heard him be critical of Russia. He is usually their greatest cheerleader. He always comes to their defense. My belief is that there is little doubt they have alot of dirt on the charlatan, and he is very, very afraid of Russia. So what gives? Why all of a sudden is he seeing Russia for what they are? A true enemy of the state. Something is strange in Washington. Maybe Mr. Unstable, definitely not a genius, has finally gotten some common sense? Or maybe he finally listened to someone with some wisdom? 

Since he was talking about improving ties with Russia all during the primaries and the campaign I wouldn't believe your whole "dirt" theory holds water.

Since Russian counter-intelligence has been hacking onto US agencies for the last 10 years, doesn't it beg the question as to why there is an investigation now and absolutely nothing before?

They may have helped Bush win (along with his brother) because they were feeding the US intelligence about WMDs. They were meddling during both Obama runs knowing he was gutless and wouldn't do anything until he was 1/2 way out the door and only then to make problems for President Trump to have to fix.

I feel sad for you having only hate in your soul. Make sure to express that distaste next payday as you dutifully line up to return all that extra money you'll be getting in your paycheck. 

Edited January 19, 2018 by mrwebb8825

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Since he was talking about improving ties with Russia all during the primaries and the campaign I wouldn't believe your whole "dirt" theory holds water.

Since Russian counter-intelligence has been hacking onto US agencies for the last 10 years, doesn't it beg the question as to why there is an investigation now and absolutely nothing before?

They may have helped Bush win (along with his brother) because they were feeding the US intelligence about WMDs. They were meddling during both Obama runs knowing he was gutless and wouldn't do anything until he was 1/2 way out the door and only then to make problems for President Trump to have to fix.

I feel sad for you having only hate in your soul. Make sure to express that distaste next payday as you dutifully line up to return all that extra money you'll be getting in your paycheck. 

So Russia influenced US elections so Obama would win.

 

Sure.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Since he was talking about improving ties with Russia all during the primaries and the campaign I wouldn't believe your whole "dirt" theory holds water.

Since Russian counter-intelligence has been hacking onto US agencies for the last 10 years, doesn't it beg the question as to why there is an investigation now and absolutely nothing before?

They may have helped Bush win (along with his brother) because they were feeding the US intelligence about WMDs. They were meddling during both Obama runs knowing he was gutless and wouldn't do anything until he was 1/2 way out the door and only then to make problems for President Trump to have to fix.

I feel sad for you having only hate in your soul. Make sure to express that distaste next payday as you dutifully line up to return all that extra money you'll be getting in your paycheck. 

 

Funny man. Only the top 5% will benefit from the new tax plan. It amounts to a massive transfer of wealth from the middle and lower class, to corporate America. One can only hope those companies, that have been given all this tax savings, at a time when they are already earning record profits, will return some of that money to the American economy. The average American has just gotten poorer, due to this man, and due to his plan. Yes, they get temporary benefits for the first three years. Then it is a continuation of the downward spiral, for the average American. 

 

I have very little hate in my soul. Granted, I have very little affection, respect, or love toward the charlatan in chief. But, I do not hate him. I hate few souls. I just do not like him. And he invites my scorn. On a daily basis. 

[mike324]

On 1/18/2018 at 6:12 AM, webfact said:

Trump said he hoped the standoff with Pyongyang could be resolved "in a peaceful way, but it’s very possible that it can’t."

He bashes previous presidents for not being able to deter NK, yet he admits himself that its very possible that he can't resolve it without going to war. Now who was the one who called Clinton warmongering? Under Trump, defense spending is up and he has ramp up military operations around the world, instead of bringing soldiers back home. 

 

[mrwebb8825]

On 1/19/2018 at 11:17 AM, spidermike007 said:

 

Funny man. Only the top 5% will benefit from the new tax plan. It amounts to a massive transfer of wealth from the middle and lower class, to corporate America. One can only hope those companies, that have been given all this tax savings, at a time when they are already earning record profits, will return some of that money to the American economy. The average American has just gotten poorer, due to this man, and due to his plan. Yes, they get temporary benefits for the first three years. Then it is a continuation of the downward spiral, for the average American. 

 

I have very little hate in my soul. Granted, I have very little affection, respect, or love toward the charlatan in chief. But, I do not hate him. I hate few souls. I just do not like him. And he invites my scorn. On a daily basis. 

You have your facts upside down. According to the experts, only about 5% won't see any significant change. As for the companies using the break to help Americans, unless you've had your head buried in the democratic sandbox then you must be choosing to believe your hate rather than the facts.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trumps-tax-cuts-delivering-hardworking-americans-manufacturers/

[stevenl]

5 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

You have your facts upside down. According to the experts, only about 5% won't see any significant change. As for the companies using the break to help Americans, unless you've had your head buried in the democratic sandbox then you must be choosing to believe your hate rather than the facts.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trumps-tax-cuts-delivering-hardworking-americans-manufacturers/

A white house statement as fact.

 

Sure mate.

[USPatriot]

Edited January 20, 2018 by USPatriot

[LomSak27]

Well Humpty Dumpty, just give your bud Prince Putin a wet kiss, bend over and take it like a man .