Trump: Korean talks are thanks to me

DONALD Trump says breakthrough negotiations between North and South Korea to end their decades-long war have his blessing.

And the US president took credit for the inter-Korean talks, insisting: ‘Without us and without me, in particular, I guess you would have to say, they wouldn’t be discussing anything.’

Speaking as he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private club in Florida, President Trump confirmed that the two Koreas are negotiating an end to hostilities. A meeting between North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected next week.

President Trump said the leaders ‘do have my blessing’ to discuss an official end to the war. The White House has said Mr Abe’s visit will give the leaders an opportunity to discuss President Trump’s upcoming summit with Mr Kim, which the president is looking to hold in the next two months.

President Trump said the US and Japan are ‘very unified’ on the subject of North Korea, though privately Mr Abe is expected to raise Japan’s concerns about the potential summit.

President Trump said five locations are under consideration for the summit but offered no further details.

The official visit began on Tuesday afternoon as an honour cordon of uniformed service-members lined the palm-fringed drive to the club and the president greeted Mr Abe at the redcarpeted door of the mansion where the pair posed for photos.