Johnson applauds a ‘constructive’ Kim and Trump deal

BRITAIN has welcomed the “constructive” tone of the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, but warned “much work” remains to be done to resolve tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that Mr Kim’s commitment to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula amounted to a reaffirmation of promises in the Panmunjon Declaration agreed with South Korea in April.

Mr Johnson said the UK would continue to support the US in its efforts to achieve “complete, verifiable and irreversible” denuclearisation in an area which has been the scene of one of the world’s most tense military stand-offs.

Following his historic meeting with Mr Kim in Singapore, Mr Trump offered unspecified “security guarantees” to North Korea and said the US would cease war-game exercises with the South.

The US leader said he was prepared to start a new history and write a new chapter between the two nations, declaring: “Real change is indeed possible.”

Mr Johnson said: “We welcome that President Trump and Kim Jong-un have held a constructive summit.

“This is an important step towards the stability of a region vital to global economic growth and home to thousands of British nationals and important UK interests.

“The reaffirmation of North Korea’s commitment in the Panmunjom Declaration to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is a signal that Kim Jong-un may finally have heeded the message that only a change of course can bring a secure and prosperous future to the people of North Korea.”