NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA TO HOLD ANOTHER SUMMIT
SEOUL/WASHINGTON: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has given his first time line for denuclearisation, aiming for the end of US President Donald Trump’s first term, Seoul officials said on Thursday, prompting thanks from Trump who said they would “get it done together”.
Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will also meet in Pyongyang on September 18-20 for a third summit and discuss “practical measures” towards denuclearisation, Moon’s national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, said a day after meeting Kim.
The summit could provide renewed momentum to talks over denuclearisation between North Korea and the US, after Trump cancelled a visit to Pyongyang by secretary of state Mike Pompeo last month citing lack of progress.
Kim told South Korean officials his faith in Trump was “unchanged” and that he wanted denuclearisation and an end to hostile relations with the US before Trump’s first term in office ends in early 2021, Chung said.
“He particularly emphasised that he has never said anything negative about President Trump,” Chung said.
Trump welcomed Kim’s remarks in a trademark tweet.
“Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims ‘unwavering faith in President Trump.’ Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!” Trump wrote.
In previous, failed talks, North Korea has said it could consider giving up its nuclear programme if the US provided security guarantees by removing troops from South Korea and withdrawing its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from the South and Japan.
US officials involved in the latest negotiations have said North Korea has refused to even start discussions about defining denuclearisation or other key terms such as “verifiable” and “irreversible”, and has insisted the United States must first agree to simultaneous steps to reduce economic pressure.
Pompeo, visiting New Delhi, declined to discuss the next steps but said there was a long road ahead in the denuclearisation process.
Moon’s national security adviser Chung said Kim had stressed the need for the United States to reciprocate North Korea’s initial moves, which have included dismantling a nuclear test site and a missile engine facility.
North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said Kim told the South’s envoys that his “fixed stand” was to turn the Korean peninsula into “a cradle of peace without nuclear weapons, free from nuclear threat”.