U.S. President Donald Trump said he decided not to put additional sanctions on North Korea because he didn't think they were necessary at this time.

Trump made the remarks on Friday during a press conference in Florida when asked about his tweet that sparked confusion about which measures he was referring to.

The president told reporters that he decided not to place additional sanctions on the North because the North Korean people were already "suffering greatly." 

On March 21st, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Chinese shipping companies over their alleged ties to North Korea. 

Trump tweeted the next day he had ordered the withdrawal of additional large-scale sanctions on the North, causing confusion whether he was referring to the previous day's sanctions or if he had ordered the withdrawal of additional sanctions.

The White House said last Monday the Treasury's sanctions will remain in place and that the president didn't feel it was necessary to add any more. 

Trump said on Friday that while the Treasury had the right to impose sanctions, he decided that he would not let it happen.  

The comment appears to indicate that Trump did in fact mean to reverse the Treasury sanctions against the two Chinese firms.

[Photo : KBS News]