Peace deal possible if North Korea doesn’t test weapons: Trump
The Trump administration has pressed the North to give up the nuclear weapons programme, which combined with its missile capabilities, pose a threat to the United States, before it can expect any concessions
Times News Service
MUSCAT: US President Donald Trump has said he would be happy if North Korea maintains its pause on weapons testing ahead of his meeting with Kim Jong Un this week.
Speaking in Washington on the eve of his departure for Vietnam, he said he is in no rush to strike a nuclear deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, when they hold their second summit this week.
“I will be leaving for Hanoi, Vietnam, early tomorrow for a Summit with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, where we both expect a continuation of the progress made at first Summit in Singapore,” Trump tweeted.
“President Xi of China has been very helpful in his support of my meeting with Kim Jong Un. The last thing China wants are large scale nuclear weapons right next door. Sanctions placed on the border by China and Russia have been very helpful. Great relationship with Chairman Kim!”
Praising North Korea’s leader, Trump added, “Chairman Kim realizes, perhaps better than anyone else, that without nuclear weapons, his country could fast become one of the great economic powers anywhere in the world.
“Because of its location and people (and him), it has more potential for rapid growth than any other nation!”
North Korea conducted its last nuclear test, its sixth, in September 2017. It last tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017.
The Trump administration has pressed the North to give up the nuclear weapons programme, which combined with its missile capabilities, pose a threat to the United States, before it can expect any concessions.
Denuclearisation
But in recent days, Trump has signalled a possible softening, saying he would love to be able to remove sanctions if there was meaningful progress on denuclearisation. Trump said he and Kim expected to make further progress at the summit and again held out the promise that denuclearisation would help North Korea develop its economy.
A South Korean presidential spokesman told reporters in Seoul the two sides might agree to declare a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War at the summit.
The war ended in a truce, not a treaty, and the North has long called for a treaty to end it. It also wants security guarantees.
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, who supports opening up to rival North Korea, praised both Trump and Kim in comments in Seoul, and said those opposed to better ties on the peninsula, and between North Korea and the United States, should “discard such biased perspectives”.
The two leaders will meet in Hanoi on Wednesday and Thursday, eight months after their historic summit in Singapore.