CIA chief says Trump aims to 'solve a problem' with North Korea talks, but critics express misgivings

Senior administration officials expressed confidence Sunday that President Trump would not be taken advantage of by North Korea's Kim Jong Un before and during any direct talks, but critics suggested the president's impulsiveness and inexperience could spell disaster if a meeting between the two leaders proceeds as planned.

Trump would be the first sitting U.S. president to hold talks with a North Korean leader if he follows through on the decision Thursday to accept an invitation to meet with Kim. Amid rising tension over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic programs, the two leaders had exchanged a series of threats and insults in recent months.

Some foreign policy observers have attributed the president's abrupt move at least in part to his fondness for grand gestures, but CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Trump "isn't doing this for theater."

"He's going to solve a problem," said Pompeo, who was interviewed on "Fox News Sunday." He also insisted that Kim must be prepared to talk about "complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization" if the meeting is to go ahead.

Source:  latimes