CIA head visited South Korea amid nuclear tensions: report

CIA Director Mike Pompeo visited South Korea Monday amid growing concern over North Korea, according to a new report.

Pompeo and his wife met with U.S. diplomats and military officials during their trip to Seoul, embassy spokesman Daniel Turnbull told The New York Times.

Turnbull said Pompeo did not have any meetings scheduled with officials from acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn’s office.

{mosads}The CIA director also did not have any planned encounters with candidates vying to succeed former President Park Geun-hye before South Korea’s presidential election on May 9.

Park was impeached for corruption in December and removed from office in March.

Pompeo’s visit comes amid flaring tempers between North Korea and the global community over the Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

North Korea reportedly tried testing a ballistic missile last Saturday, but the projectile exploded shortly after liftoff.

The last North Korean missile launch happened in April and also ended with the weapon exploding prematurely.

The USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group entered the Sea of Japan Saturday, purportedly to deter North Korean aggression in the region.

President Trump said during an interview Sunday that he thinks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is a “pretty smart cookie.”

“[Kim] is dealing with obviously very tough people, in particular the generals and others,” he said on “CBS Face the Nation.” “And he was able to do it. So obviously, he’s a pretty smart cookie.”

North Korea’s pursuit of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has made it one of the most significant foreign policy challenges of Trump’s presidency so far.