Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday called reports of a rift on North Korea between himself and national security adviser John Bolton “a complete joke,” even as he acknowledged that the two advisers to President Donald Trump were likely to “disagree with great consistency over time.”
During the White House press briefing, Pompeo was asked to explain the extent of his disagreements with Bolton on North Korea amid reports the two officials have clashed on their approaches to negotiating with the North’s government. Pompeo, a leading figure in the ongoing discussions with the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, and other North Korean officials, framed his disputes with Bolton as ordinary differences of opinion.
“I love good fiction as much as the next person,” Pompeo told reporters, “but it is without foundation, so much so that, you know, I’ll be polite, since I’m a diplomat now – suffice it to say, those articles are unfounded and a complete joke.”
He added: “Ambassador Bolton and I will disagree with great consistency over time. I’m confident. We’re two individuals. We’re each going to present our views. I’m confident that will happen on issues from how long this press conference ought to go to issues that really matter to the world.”
The secretary of state added that the president “demands” that his advisers give him their unfiltered opinions on foreign policy matters, even if they at times clash with others in the White House.
The remarks come as the White House continues to prepare for a historic summit between Trump and Kim in Singapore next Tuesday.
Trump told reporters on Thursday at a bilateral press conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan that he saw a “tremendous” upside to the negotiations with Kim over the North’s nuclear program, while warning that he is prepared to walk away from the negotiating table should talks sour.
The meeting is the culmination of months of negotiations and planning with North Korea by Trump, Pompeo, Bolton and other top administration officials.
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