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Trump Tried to Undo North Korea Penalty, Contrary to U.S. Account

  • President tweeted that he withdrew North Korea sanctions
  • U.S. officials talked Trump out of move, devised cover story
Korean People's Army soldiers walk before statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on Feb. 16, 2019.

Korean People's Army soldiers walk before statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang on Feb. 16, 2019.

Photographer: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images

Updated on

President Donald Trump last week intended to reverse sanctions imposed on two Chinese shipping companies accused of violating North Korea trade prohibitions -- until officials in his administration persuaded him to back off and then devised a misleading explanation of his vague tweet announcing the move.

Trump stunned current and former government officials Friday afternoon with a tweet saying he had “ordered the withdrawal” of “additional large scale sanctions” against North Korea. For hours, officials at the White House and Treasury and State departments wouldn’t explain what he meant.

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