NO FINAL DECISION ON DPRK'S OLYMPICS OFFER
Speaking of the DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un's offer to talk with South Korea and send athletes to join in the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea, Sanders said the United States "haven't made a final determination on" whether to support that offer or not.
In his New Year's speech, Kim said the DPRK will take necessary measures to prepare to participate in the event, adding that the two sides should reduce the highly tense military confrontation to create a peaceful environment for reconciliation.
Later, Trump tweeted that "sanctions and 'other' pressures are beginning to have a big impact" on the DPRK.
"Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not -- we will see!" he said, referring to Kim's offer.
Sanders noted that the U.S. policy on the DPRK "hasn't changed at all," adding Washington "is committed and will still continue to put maximum pressure on the DPRK to change and make sure that it denuclearizes the Korean Peninsula."
The situation on the Korean Peninsula remained volatile throughout 2017, as the DPRK test-fired several ballistic missiles, including three intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the United States constantly conducted large-scale military drills with South Korea and has also four times voted for adopting resolutions against the DPRK to impose new sanctions.
U.S. WANTS PAKISTAN TO DO MORE TO STOP TERRORISM
Trump raised eyebrows around the world on Monday by tweeting that Pakistan has "given us nothing but lies & deceit" in return for U.S. aid, accusing the nation of providing a safe haven to the terrorists Washington is hunting in Afghanistan.
In response, Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad late Monday to lodge a protest, saying Pakistan has taken action against all militant groups without any discrimination and its sacrifices are being ignored.
Speaking of Pakistan, Sanders said "we know that they can do more to stop terrorism, and we want them to do that. That seems pretty simple."
When asked about what prompted Trump's Pakistan tweet yesterday, Sanders only explained that Trump received daily updates and briefings.
"This is something that the president has been following and has talked about, again, back during August, when he laid out his Afghanistan and South Asia strategy. And this is something that the administration continues to watch on a daily basis," she said.
"We know that Pakistan can do more to fight terrorism, and we want them to step up and do that," she added.
