Trump halts Pompeo from going to North Korea

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he has cancelled his top diplomat's planned trip to North Korea due to a lack of progress on denuclearization.

"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 said in a series of tweets.

Trump said he believes the ongoing trade spat with China has led Beijing to halt its assistance in bringing about the elusive goal "despite the UN Sanctions which are in place."

"Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved. In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!" he added.

The announcement comes one day after Pompeo said he would go to North Korea next week alongside recently-appointed special representative to North Korea, Steve Biegun. The trip would have been Pompeo's fourth to Pyongyang.

Friday's tweets are the first time Trump has publicly acknowledged a lack of forward momentum following a historic sit-down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

The U.S. has maintained its calls for all countries to adhere to global sanctions against the North, which has yet to publicly agree on a timeline for its denuclearization despite two months passing since the June 12 summit.

Some analysts have suggested North Korea has ramped up, rather than pulled back parts of its nuclear program since the leaders met.

The 38 North Washington-based think tank pointed to satellite imagery last month, which it said suggests the North has increased pace on its processing of weapons-grade plutonium.