White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders scolded reporters during her daily press briefing Friday; reminding journalists of their glowing coverage of the North Korean regime during the 2018 Olympics just weeks ago.
Sparks flew between Sanders and one reporter when he asked if the Trump administration was “elevating” Kim Jong Un by holding high-level meetings with the brutal dictator.
“He’s starved his own people, he’s murdered his own people… Why put him on the same stage as the President of the United States?” he asked.
“The president wants to make sure that we denuclearize the peninsula, and that we’re securing and helping have a safer world,” Sanders fired-back. “I’m glad that you guys are acknowledging a lot of the problems of North Korea, because just a couple weeks ago a lot of members in the press were actually elevating North Korea and some of the members of the regime and comparing them to people in the United States and in this administration.”
“That’s what put North Korea on a similar stage,” she added.
Watch the Press Secretary’s fiery exchange above.
BODY BLOW: US CRACKS DOWN on Kim’s ILLEGAL Weapons Programs
The Trump administration unveiled new sanctions and economic pressure aimed at North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s expanding nuclear and chemical weapons programs this week; clamping down on international businesses and trading partners that continue to conduct business with the brutal communist regime.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the crippling new guidelines Wednesday, saying the US refuses to sit idly as the Hermit Kingdom continues to test nuclear warheads and long-range ballistic missiles; adding America will do all it can to stop Kim’s “destabilizing activities.”
“We are sanctioning additional oil, shipping, and trading companies that continue to provide a lifeline to North Korea to fuel this regime’s nuclear ambitions and destabilizing activities,” said Mnuchin.
The new policy highlights the President’s suspicions that Russia and China are covertly aiding Kim’s regime, sending fuel and food supplies already banned by recent UN sanctions.
“[The United States] designated 10 representatives of the Korea Ryonbong General Corporation (Ryonbong), which has been designated by the UN and the United States,” said the Treasury Secretary. “Ryonbong specializes in acquisition for North Korean defense industries and support to Pyongyang’s military-related sales. Its procurements also probably support North Korea’s chemical weapons program.”
NO THANKS: Susan Rice TELLS TRUMP to Re-Hire OBAMA Diplomats for Korea Talks
Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice advised the Trump administration to “recall” previous experts and diplomats to help prepare for upcoming nuclear talks with North Korean officials; suggesting he create a “bipartisan” team in the coming days.
Susan Rice -herself the center of a widening scandal surrounding the surveillance of senior Trump associates- offered her unsolicited advice on MSNBC Friday; saying it’s “absolutely imperative” that Trump re-hire former officials familiar with North Korea negotiations.
"I think it's absolutely imperative that the president draw on the expertise that exists in the United Sates on North Korea."
– Fmr. @AmbassadorRice on what Trump should do to prepare for his meeting with Kim Jong Un pic.twitter.com/0UZnl3Qdr5
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 9, 2018
“I think it’s absolutely imperative that the President draws on the expertise that does exist in the United States on North Korea. Little of it remains in the administration, unfortunately, because we’re hemorrhaging experts and diplomats,” said Rice.
“I think it would be a very wise move for the President and the Secretary of State to recall our diplomats and experts who have negotiated with North Korea on a bipartisan basis and consult with them extensively. Impress them into joining a team that would advise the administration about how to approach this negotiation,” she added.
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