US, North Korean officials head to S’pore

> Diplomatic flurry suggests Trump-Kim summit may go ahead

SEOUL: North Korea has dispatched top officials to the US and Singapore, media reported yesterday, the latest indication that the on-again-off-again summit with US President Donald Trump may happen.

Kim Yong Chol, vice-chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee, was scheduled to fly to the US today after speaking to Chinese officials in Beijing, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said, citing an unnamed source.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s de facto chief of staff, Kim Chang Son, meanwhile, flew to Singapore via Beijing on Monday night, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

At the same time, a “pre-advance” team is travelling to Singapore to meet with North Koreans, the White House said.

US government officials, including the White House deputy chief of staff for operations Joe Hagin, left US Yokota Air Base in Japan for Singapore on Monday, NHK said.

The reports indicate that planning for the historic summit, initially scheduled for June 12, is moving ahead after Trump called it off last week.

A day later, Trump said he had reconsidered, and officials from both sides are meeting to work out details.

When Chang Son was asked by a reporter at the Beijing airport if he was flying to Singapore for talks with the US, he said he was “going there to play”, according to footage from Nippon Television Network.

Choe Kang Il, a North Korean foreign ministry official involved with North America issues, was also spotted at Beijing Capital International Airport, according to Yonhap.

It did not say whether Choe would be accompanying Yong Chol.

If his trip is confirmed, Yong Chol would be the most senior North Korean official to meet with top officials in the US since Jo Myong Rok, a marshal, met with then-president Bill Clinton at the White House in 2000. – AFP