Trump is ‘absolutely’ ready to talk with North Korea’s Kim
US president Donald Trump says he would “absolutely” be willing to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he tried to claim credit for the coming talks between North Korea and South Korea.
On Friday, the North agreed to hold official talks with South Korea this week, the first in more than two years, hours after Washington and Seoul delayed a military exercise amid a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes.
Yesterday, South Korea’s unification ministry said that the North had announced five officials who would represent Pyongyang, a day after Seoul confirmed its delegates.
The talks are expected to cover the Winter Olympics due to take place in South Korea next month, and inter-Korean relations.
Mr Trump suggested they were only happening as a result of his steady pressure.
“Look, right now they’re talking Olympics,” he said. “It’s a big start. If I weren’t involved they wouldn’t be talking at all right now.
“Kim knows I’m not messing around. Not even a little bit, not even 1 per cent.”
Speaking from the presidential retreat at Camp David, Mr Trump also said he was willing to talk to Mr Kim, with certain conditions.
“Absolutely, I would do that,” he said. “I have no problem with that at all. If something can come out of those talks, that would be a great thing for all of humanity.” Mr Kim and Mr Trump have exchanged insults since the US president took office.
Mr Trump has repeatedly called Mr Kim “Rocket Man” for testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. When the North Korean leader last week said his nuclear button was always ready on his desk, Mr Trump boasted that his button was bigger.
North Korea’s delegation will be led by Ri Son-gwon, head of its reunification committee.