Schiff: Trump’s unpredictability had something to do with the North Koreans coming to the table

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said on Sunday that President Trump’s unpredictable nature in part led to talks between North Korea, South Korea and the U.S. 

“I think it’s more than fair to say that the combination of the president’s unpredictability and bellicosity had something to do with the North Koreans deciding to come to the table,” Schiff told ABC’s Jonathan Karl on “This Week.”

{mosads}”But before the president takes too much credit or hangs out the mission accomplished banner, he needs to realize we may go into a confrontational phase and he may not want the full blame if things go south, so you have to be a little circumspect about that,” he continued. 

“The most important for this president is that when things do become confrontational as is likely to happen, it’s going to be very important that we are lashed up with our allies, South Korea and Japan, otherwise North Korea will pick us apart, and this president isn’t particularly good about lashing up with our allies,” he said. 

Schiff also said he was optimistic about the opportunity for Washington to work with Pyongyang. 

“There’s more than a ray of light here. Let’s just hope that we can maximize the chance for success there,” he said. 

Schiff’s comments come days after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for the first time and discussed denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, as well as a formal end to the decades-long Korean War. 

South Korean presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan also announced on Sunday that Kim pledged to shut down its main nuclear testing site in May.  

Trump is slated to meet with Kim within the next two months.