After one day, Trump reverses first DPRK sanctions since Hanoi summit

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday reversed Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)-related sanctions announced by the U.S. Treasury just a day earlier and the White House said he was doing so because he "likes" DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and did not consider them necessary.

"It was announced today by the U.S. Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea (DPRK),” Trump tweeted from his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago. "I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!"

Screenshot of U.S. President Donald Trump's tweet

There were no new U.S. sanctions on the DPRK announced on Friday. Reuters said Trump was apparently referring to the U.S. Treasury's blacklisting on Thursday of two Chinese shipping companies that it said helped the DPRK evade sanctions over its nuclear weapons program.

China on Friday strongly rejected the sanctions and U.S. accusation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters that China had made solemn representations to the U.S. on this issue. Geng said China resolutely opposes any country's unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities in accordance with its own domestic laws, and that it always strictly implements the resolutions related to the DPRK adopted by the UN Security Council.

"We urge the U.S. to immediately stop the wrong practices so as not to affect the cooperation between the two sides on relevant issues," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un enjoy dinner at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi, Feburary 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

Thursday's sanctions were the first since the Hanoi summit, which collapsed over conflicting demands by the DPRK for sanctions relief and by the United States for the DPRK to give up its nuclear weapons.

Despite the collapse of the Feb. 27-28 summit, Trump has stressed his good personal relationship with Kim and his administration has said repeatedly it is willing to reengage.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders did not specify which sanctions Trump spoke of, but said: “President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn't think these sanctions will be necessary.”

Hours after Thursday's sanctions announcement, the DPRK on Friday pulled out of a liaison office with the Republic of Korea, a major setback for Seoul, which has pushed hard for engagement between Washington and Pyongyang.

(CGTN)