Trump wants more Kim talks

– US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he hoped to organise a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in early 2019, perhaps as soon as January or February.

Trump told reporters travelling home to Washington with him from Argentina that “three sites” were in consideration for the meeting, a follow-up to their historic summit in Singapore in June.

When asked about a future meeting, Trump said: “I think we’re going to do one fairly (soon) – into January, February.”

Trump had been in Buenos Aires for the Group of 20 summit.

In June, Trump and Kim opened up dialogue on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

The two leaders signed a vaguely worded document on denuclearisation of the peninsula, but progress has since stalled as Washington and Pyongyang spar and North Korea has taken few steps to abandon its missile programmes.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to meet with a top North Korean official in early November, but the meeting was abruptly put off, with North Korea insisting Washington ease sanctions.

On Friday, Trump discussed the situation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

The pair “reaffirmed their commitment to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearisation” of North Korea.

But differences have emerged between Washington and Seoul on how to proceed with Kim, as the dovish Moon has long favoured engagement with the North.

When asked on Saturday if he would ever host Kim in the United States, Trump replied: “At some point, yeah.” – AFP