WASHINGTON, April 24 (KUNA) -- President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been "very open and, I think, very honorable," and the President suggested he was open to "doing something" on the Iran nuclear agreement as long as it is "done strongly." On his planned meeting this spring with Kim, Trump, during a joint appearance Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron in the White House Cabinet room, said, "We have been told directly that they would like to have the meeting as soon as possible. We think that's a great thing for the world.
"Now a lot of promises have been made by North Korea over the years, but they have never been in this position," Trump said.
"We'll see where that will all go," he said. "Unlike past administrations, I will leave the table. But I think we have the chance to do something very special." On Iran, Trump said he and Macron had a good discussion and seemed to hint that side agreements could be negotiated to the 2015 nuclear deal. "We're looking forward to doing something, but it has to be done, and it has to be done strongly," Trump said.
Speaking of Macron in the context of Iran, Trump said, "We're fairly close to understanding each other. Our one on one went very well." Trump also spoke about economics and trade. "Too bad it's not just us doing the negotiating for the rest of the world," Trump said, adding that US trade with the European Union was "very unfair" but with France it is "fair." Trump said US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin would go to China next week for trade talks.
"I think we've got a very good chance of making a deal," he said. While China President Xi Jinping is "a friend of mine," Trump said of China, "They trade with us; we can't trade with them." On renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trump noted that Mexico has an upcoming election that complicates negotiations. "We're doing very nicely with NAFTA," he said. "I could make a deal very quickly, but I'm not sure that's in the interest of the United States." Macron alluded to "common global challenges" on trade, including overcapacity of steel. He also mentioned climate and business ties. "We have a lot in common," he said.
"We had a very good discussion on Syria, on Iran, the broader region, and some other very important topics regarding our security," Macron said. "We have to work together because we have always worked together to preserve the stability of this region.
"The bilateral relationship is balanced between France and the US," he said.
The two discussed the Paris climate agreement "and our common challenges on the climate," Macron said. Trump pulled the US out of the agreement last year.
Macron described his talks with Trump as "very direct and fruitful." (end) rm.bs