Pompeo taking lead role in planning Trump’s North Korea meeting: report

[mystery-ak]

Pompeo taking lead role in planning Trump’s North Korea meeting: report
By John Bowden - 03/17/18 09:39 AM EDT

CIA Director Mike Pompeo is taking the lead in back-channel communications with North Korea as President Trump prepares to meet with the country's leader Kim Jong Un, The New York Times reports.

Pompeo, whom Trump announced this week he would appoint as his new secretary of State, has been dealing with North Korean representatives through a channel between the CIA and its counterpart in North Korea and has been in contact with South Korea's intelligence chief, who helped broker the Trump-Kim meeting, according to the report.

The CIA's role in communicating with North Korea reflects the diminished role of the State Department, which traditionally handles such high-profile diplomatic meetings, and comes after Trump ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson this week.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378917-pompeo-taking-lead-role-in-negotiating-trumps-north-korea-meeting

[edpc]

The CIA's role in communicating with North Korea reflects the diminished role of the State Department, which traditionally handles such high-profile diplomatic meetings, and comes after Trump ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson this week.

Actually, it makes perfect sense.  Pompeo is in line to be the SoS by meeting time.  Meanwhile, as CIA director, he has first hand access to the intel needed to direct the talks and set conditions.