Arizona Republicans confident Trump, Kim Jong Un meeting will continue

PHOENIX — North Korea has threatened to pull out of a historic summit set to take place next month between its leader, Kim Jong Un, and President Donald Trump due to military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, but could that actually happen?

The country said Wednesday that it has no interest in a “one-sided” affair meant to pressure the North to abandon its nuclear weapons, shortly after abruptly cancelling a high-level meeting with South Korea.

But Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos that she doubts Kim will cancel the meeting.

“I think Kim Jong Un wants to save face and wants to look strong and big and be forceful, as he has done in the past, but I don’t think he will pull out.”

And if he does? “Then we just continue on with our military maneuvers down there in South Korea and keep a very diligent eye on him,” she said.

However, Brewer said she was confident that Kim wants to sit down with Trump to “try to come to a resolution.”

The Arizona Republican was not alone: U.S. Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News that he was optimistic that the meeting would continue, but said lawmakers would need to “dance” with North Korean leaders before the meeting could actually take place.

“I hope it happens. I think its good for the world, I think its good for North Korea, but it needs to happen in a fashion where you’re not empowering more bad acts but you’re actually bringing stability and peace to the Korean peninsula and the entire region,” he said.

“This is going to be a bit of a dance. You need to understand that part of this negotiation is going to take place in the medium and that’s just the dance that’s ahead of us.”

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