Arizona Rep. Biggs is ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Trump, North Korea
Mar 9, 2018, 9:21 AM | Updated: 10:10 am
A woman walks by a huge screen showing U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, in Tokyo, Friday, March 9, 2018. After a year of threats and diatribes, U.S. President Donald Trump and third-generation North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un have agreed to meet face-to-face for talks about the North’s nuclear program.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
PHOENIX — A trip to North Korea could be in the works for President Donald Trump and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona was hopeful that signaled a turn for the better in relations between the two countries.
The announcement that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the White House he wanted to talk with Trump, “was a mild surprise … I’m cautiously optimistic,” Biggs said Friday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.
“I think it’s a good idea,” he said of the potential milestone meeting.
No sitting U.S. president has met with a North Korean leader nor do the countries have formal diplomatic ties. The meeting could happen by May.
“(Trump) absolutely needs to get there,” Biggs said.
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Kim also agreed to stop nuclear and missile tests for now.
The small country’s nuclear program has been a point of contention since before Trump took office. He has repeatedly called Kim “Rocket man” and in a September address to the United Nations General Assembly, he said America would “totally destroy” North Korea to defend itself and allies.
The congressman had attended a briefing on North Korea issues the same morning the invitation was delivered.
“The fact that President Trump has projected power in the region has caused Kim Jong Un to say, you know, maybe it would be a good thing to talk this over … it’s good they talk this over.
“Maybe this is a real chance to de-escalate things over there.”
