Trump to meet Kim Jong-un ‘by May’

US president says he has accepted invitation from North Korean leader after pledge to halt nuclear tests

DONALD TRUMP said last night that he would meet Kim Jong-un within two months and the North Korean leader has vowed to stop nuclear tests.

In an extraordinary development, the US president said he would sit down with Mr Kim “by May”.

It followed a letter from Mr Kim inviting Mr Trump to talk, which was delivered to the White House by South Korean officials after they met with the North Korean leader.

Chung Eui-yong, the head of South Korea’s National Security Office, said Mr Kim had indicated he was committed to denuclearisation, and had pledged the rogue nation would refrain from nuclear and missile tests.

The South Korean official, speaking in the White House driveway after meeting Mr Trump, said: “He (Mr Kim) expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible. President Trump appreciated the briefing, and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearisation.”

The disclosure took the world by surprise. A few hours before it was announced, Mr Trump made a rare appearance in the White House briefing room, indicating a “major announcement” was about to be made. He said: “Hopefully, you will give me credit.”

Mr Kim has also told South Korean officials he understands the joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea must continue, Mr Chung said. He added: “We stand united that we must not repeat the mistakes of the past, and the pressure will continue until North Korea matches its words with actions.”

Mr Chung led the delegation that went to Pyongyang and met Mr Kim on Monday, receiving the letter for Mr Trump.

Seoul had publicly indicated North Korea offered talks with the US on denuclearisation and normalising ties, a potential diplomatic opening after a year of escalating tensions over the hermit kingdom’s nuclear programme.

While the path to a diplomatic resolution over the North’s nuclear arsenal would be long and difficult, talks could dampen fears of war breaking out.

Before the announcement Rex Tillerson, the US secretary of state, who is in Africa, said the US had seen “potentially positive signals” from North Korea.

The announcement was a major coup for Seoul, which has been pushing for a meeting since President Moon Jae-in came to power last year.