Steve Biegun, the Trump administration’s North Korea negotiator, told reporters in an off the record briefing Sunday that the administration wanted a “complete freeze” of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction program while they are negotiating with the U.S.
Between the lines: Biegun’s off the record remarks, made aboard Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s plane during the return trip to Washington from Korea, signaled he’s willing to be more flexible with North Korea than the hardliners in the Trump administration. Biegun said the administration isn’t ready to lift the sanctions against North Korea if it freezes its weapons program, but that it could give Kim other concessions, such as humanitarian relief and improved diplomatic ties.