In a highly unusual move, President Trump on Friday said he is canceling “additional, large scale” sanctions the Treasury Department just imposed on North Korea.
“I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!” he tweeted.
The president’s declaration sparked confusion, because it was unclear which sanctions he wanted to roll back.
The president said the sanctions were imposed Friday, though Treasury’s last decision on North Korea came late Thursday. It blacklisted two Chinese shipping companies for helping North Korea evade sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said his department wanted other rogue actors to take heed, while National Security Adviser John Bolton called it an “important” action.
Yet on Friday, Mr. Trump said he saw no need to crack down, as he tries to build his relationship with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and denuclearize the Korean peninsula. A recent summit between the leaders in Hanoi, Vietnam, ended without a deal.
“President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary,” said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders....