Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said on Friday that the United States "must remain deeply skeptical" as it approaches a meeting with North Korea and should avoid granting "unilateral concessions" to the Kim Jong Un regime.
"The patterns of U.S.-North Korea crises are well-worn and North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities are obvious. A summit could possibly break those patterns and lead to the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Cotton said in a statement released in response to an announcement President Donald Trump and Kim will meet in the coming months.
The senator went on to caution against conceding to North Korea and conveyed skepticism about the intentions of the Kim regime.
My statement on President Trump’s announced meeting with North Korea: https://t.co/VMqdQex7iX pic.twitter.com/9bUz1u0rrY
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) March 9, 2018
A South Korean official said Thursday that Kim is committed to denuclearization and is planning to meet with Trump at a date to be determined. Afterwards, Trump tweeted about a "meeting being planned" between the different sides.
Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2018
The proposed meeting comes in the midst of reports that the Pentagon is ramping up plans for a potential war on the Korean peninsula.