Relations with US: Kim warns against ‘dark and risky’ outlook

WASHINGTON:North Korean leader Kim Jon gUn said he’s willing to hold a third summit with President Donald Trump as long as the US offers acceptable terms for an agreement by the end of the year.

In remarks carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday, Kim said he wouldn’t welcome a repeat of the Hanoi summit in February, when Trump walked out without securing a nuclear disarmament deal.

“We will wait with patience for the a courageous decision from the US by the end of this year, but it will be tough to get such a good opportunity like the last time,” Kim said in a speech at North Korea’s legislature, according to the KCNA report.

Kim’s remarks suggest an attempt to breathe new life into the stalled negotiations. In a leadership shuffle announced on Friday, Kim consolidated his power and granted new legitimacy to officials involved in the talks with the US.

“They want to see the US make the next move - that the steps that they took, such as returning war remains and shutting down missile sites, are even more grounds to demand the US to relieve sanctions,” said Kim Hyun Wook, a professor at the Korean National Diplomatic Academy. “However, the US has taken a more hard-line stance since the Hanoi summit.”

Kim said he doesn’t have to be fixated on a summit to obtain sanctions relief, and he wouldn’t hesitate to reach an agreement if the US brings up an idea that is acceptable to both sides, KCNA reported.

“What is clear is that if the US clings to the current political reckoning, the outlook for resolving problems will be dark and very risky,” the North Korean leader warned.