March 09, 2018

Duckworth Statement on Announcement of Trump’s Agreement to Meet with Kim Jong Un

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s announcement that he plans to meet with Kim Jong Un by May 2018:

“There is no realistic military solution to the DPRK that does not involve catastrophic levels of casualties, destruction and global economic turmoil. I welcome the President’s new embrace of diplomacy over his prior reckless bluster. However, I would strongly urge the Administration to remember that Kim Jong Un, like his father and grandfather before him, have long sought a visit from the President of the United States to enhance their own prestige and justify their dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons. Accepting an invitation carries tremendous risk. Now more than ever, the President must empower our diplomats and nuclear non-proliferation experts to work with our allies to carefully coordinate our efforts in seeking a pathway towards denuclearization of north Korea. He can start by nominating a qualified candidate for the position of US Ambassador to the ROK.”