Trump open to White House visit by Kim

But US president says invitation depends on Singapore summit

US President Donald Trump has offered to invite the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s top leader Kim Jongun to visit the White House, if their first summit next week in Singapore goes well, but also threatened to quit the talks and ramp up sanctions if negotiations go otherwise.

At a White House news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump was asked if he will be inviting Kim to the US if the summit is a success. “The answer is yes,” Trump replied. “But certainly if it goes well. I think it would be well received. I think he would look at it very favorably, so I think that could happen.”

Trump said his summit with Kim, scheduled for Tuesday, is “much more than a photo op”. The US leader described the talks as “a process” from which he predicted “a terrific success or a modi- fied success” would result.

“I think it’s not a one-meeting deal,” he said. Asked how many days he is willing to stay to talk with Kim, Trump said: “One, two, three — depending on what happens.”

Abe said he “strongly” hopes that “this historic summit in Singapore (will) be a resounding success”.

“Japan is prepared to settle the unfortunate past, to normalize diplomatic relations, and to provide economic cooperation,” he said.

However, Trump said he was “totally prepared to walk away” if he felt he must, and would reinstate “maximum pressure” if the talks did not go well.

“All I can say is I am totally prepared to walk away. I did it once before,” Trump said, perhaps referring to what he did to the historic Iran nuclear deal. But he added: “And again, I say that with hope that maybe something can happen.”

Trump reiterated that he doesn’t use the term “maximum pressure” because the two sides are entering into a “friendly negotiation”.

However, he warned he could impose new sanctions.

As to the preparation for the summit, Trump said he didn’t think he had to prepare very much. “It’s about attitude. It’s about willingness to get things done.”

Trump also said he promised to raise with Kim the subject of Japanese citizens allegedly abducted by the DPRK, after Abe focused on the issue during their meeting earlier in the day.

Tokyo’s concerns

Michael J. Green, senior vice-president for Asia and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said on Thursday that the Japanese are particularly worried that Trump will cut a deal where Pyongyang perhaps freezes missiles that have the range to hit the US but not the hundreds of missiles that have the range to hit Japan.

The foreign ministers of the DPRK and Singapore on Thursday also discussed the preparations for the upcoming DPRK-US summit, Xinhua News Agency quoted the KCNA on Friday. It is the first time the DPRK’s official media has reported on the upcoming meeting.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will accompany Trump to participate in the Singapore summit. Then the US top diplomat will visit the Republic of Korea and China, according to a State Department statement.

Xinhua and AP contributed to this story.