Trump awaits Kim’s letter as Lavrov counsels on talks with US
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he expects a letter from Kim Jong-un confirming plans for their nuclear summit, as their senior envoys thrashed out details at talks in New York.
As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sat down in a New York flat with the North Korean leader’s right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, in Washington Mr Trump expressed optimism.
“I look forward to seeing what’s in the letter,” Mr Trump said. Mr Pompeo’s diplomatic encounter, he said, appeared to be going “very well”.
“They will probably be coming to Washington DC on Friday to deliver the letter so I look forward to that,” he said.
The small delegations were to hold two two-hour negotiating sessions on plans for a June 12 summit in Singapore between Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un to resolve their nations’ nuclear stand-off.
Washington has demanded that the North agree to a “complete, verifiable and irreversible” end to Pyongyang’s nuclear programme, which is close to the point where it could threaten US cities with missile strikes.
Pyongyang is seeking international recognition and security guarantees and it is far from clear whether its own vision of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be brought in line with Washington’s.
Nevertheless – after a wobble last month when Mr Trump briefly cancelled the planned summit – US diplomats are negotiating with the North and a summit planning team is in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign minister arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday for talks with Kim Jong-un and warned against setting expectations too high, urging all sides to “avoid the temptation to demand everything and now”.
“We believe it is very important to treat these contacts in a very delicate manner, not to make any abrupt movements, to artificially speed up the process that requires a significant amount of time,” Sergey Lavrov said.
Russia, he said, was ready to contribute to diplomatic efforts.
Speaking to Mr Lavrov, Mr Kim said: “As we move to adjust to the political situation in the face of US hegemonism, I am willing to exchange detailed and indepth opinions with your leadership.”