Trump Cancels Pompeo Trip to North Korea, Citing Lack of ‘Sufficient Progress’ on Denuclearization

President Donald Trump announced Friday he had canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's upcoming trip to North Korea due to a lack of "sufficient progress" in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Pompeo had been scheduled to travel to Pyongyang next week alongside special envoy Stephen Biegun for further nuclear talks. The United Nations nuclear watchdog reported this week that North Korea, despite promises to the contrary, has continued to develop its nuclear program since Trump's historic summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in June.

Trump, who previously declared that North Korea was "no longer a nuclear threat," added he felt China was no longer helping in the denuclearization process because of the tougher U.S. stance toward it on trade. China is North Korea's chief trading partner and holds immense power over its economy.

"I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump wrote. "Additionally, because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place)."

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