Trump could invite Kim to US if summit succeeds

But president says he’s ‘totally prepared’ to walk away

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Thursday he’s ready for his close-up with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, even though “I don’t think I have to prepare very much” for next week’s session in Singapore – and he might even invite Kim to the White House if things go well.

Exuding optimism, Trump said a nuclear weapons agreement with North Korea would require more than one meeting, but striking a deal could lead to a normalization of relations with North Korea, a country that has frequently declared the United States an enemy.

“It’s about attitude, it’s about willingness to get things done,” said Trump, who is scheduled to talk with Kim on Tuesday about starting a process toward an agreement. “But I think I’ve been preparing for this summit for a long time, as has the other side.”

Trump met at the White House with another major player in Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe said he told the president, “I would like to take this opportunity to make sure that we two have the utmost policy coordination as to our approach to the planned summit meeting.”

During a joint news conference, Trump and Abe pledged to work together on North Korea after the Singapore summit.

Trump said his hopes for a nuclear deal include normalization of relations between the United States and North Korea, which have been at odds since the Korean War of 1950-53.

Trump said part of his summit meeting with Kim could be a pledge to work with North and South Korea on a treaty that would formally end the Korean War, which remains in a state of ceasefire.

Asked whether he’d invite Kim to the White House or to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, “Maybe we’ll start with the White House. What do you think?”

But only if things go well in Singapore, Trump said.

If not, he said, he is prepared to end negotiations before they start in earnest, noting that he canceled the Singapore meeting before putting it back on the schedule.

“All I can say is I’m totally prepared to walk away,” Trump said.

“I did it once before. You have to be able to walk away.”