Trump: Missing missiles in North Korean parade ‘big and very positive statement’

President Trump on Sunday lauded the absence of long-range missiles from a parade marking North Korea’s 70th anniversary as a “big and very positive” sign of progress. 

“North Korea has just staged their parade, celebrating 70th anniversary of founding, without the customary display of nuclear missiles. Theme was peace and economic development,” the president tweeted Sunday.

“This is a big and very positive statement from North Korea,” he added.

“Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will both prove everyone wrong!” Trump wrote. “There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other! Much better than before I took office.” 

North Korea has just staged their parade, celebrating 70th anniversary of founding, without the customary display of nuclear missiles. Theme was peace and economic development. “Experts believe that North Korea cut out the nuclear missiles to show President Trump……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2018

…its commitment to denuclearize.” @FoxNews This is a big and very positive statement from North Korea. Thank you To Chairman Kim. We will both prove everyone wrong! There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other! Much better than before I took office.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2018

{mosads}The parade earlier Sunday emphasized North Korea’s “conventional arms, peace and economic development,” according to Reuters, which noted that one float carried a slogan saying “All our might to build economy!”

North Korea’s nominal head of state also said during the parade that the country had achieved military might and now would turn to its economy, the news service reported. 

The tone was consistent with statements a South Korean envoy made to The New York Times last Friday. The individual told the Times that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Trump that he would denuclearize before Trump’s term ends in 2021.

The parade and Kim’s reported statement came after Trump requested that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hold off from visiting North Korea in a scheduled follow-up to Trump’s summit with Kim earlier this summer.