Trump will reportedly not mention human rights while meeting with Kim Jong Un

President Trump with Americans freed from North Korea.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 11 June 2018

When President Trump sits down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he will have a one-track mind.

Trump has decided not to bring up human rights violations when he meets with Kim on Tuesday morning in Singapore, administration officials told NBC News.

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Trump previously told reporters that he "could" bring up North Korea's human rights record "maybe in great detail," but the focus of the historic summit has been on whether or not Kim will agree to denuclearize. Now, Trump has reportedly decided to make the entire meeting about nuclear weapons, and will opt not to demand human rights concessions in order to receive lessened economic sanctions from the U.S.

Lawmakers and officials have warned Trump that it would be a mistake to meet with Kim without bringing up his history of torture, executions, and the estimated 100,000 North Koreans who live in prison camps performing forced labor. Pyongyang's human rights violations have long been an obstacle for the U.S., and previous administrations have refused to lessen sanctions without improved conditions in North Korea. Read more at NBC News.

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Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.

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