Dem senator: I’m ‘encouraged’ by Trump’s work with North Korea

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said Monday that he is “encouraged” by President Trump’s moves with North Korea.

“We need a diplomatic solution. We’re all looking for a diplomatic solution,” Cardin, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN’s “New Day.”

{mosads}“I applaud the president of South Korea for using the Olympics to start this process going. I am very much encouraged by President Trump and sending at that time the director of the CIA — Mr. Pompeo,” he added, referring to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pompeo met with Kim while he still served as CIA director.

Cardin said Trump “absolutely” deservers credit for pushing for diplomacy and that the president should be recognized for his achievements if discussions with North Korea are successful.

“We are on one team — our team — the United States. We need to calm things on the Korea Peninsula,” Cardin said. “We need to denuclearize ultimately. But right now, a freeze, getting inspectors in, that’s a big victory for diplomacy.” 

Trump is gearing up for a future summit with Kim in the coming weeks, though the White House as yet to announce a date or place.

Kim last week met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for the first time and reportedly said he will give up his country’s nuclear weapons if the United States vows it won’t invade North Korea.