Summit with Kim back on, says Trump after meeting North-Korean-official
What's the story
US President Donald Trump confirmed his Singapore Summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would take place on June 12, adding it would begin the process of Korean Peninsula's denuclearization. Trump's announcement came at the end of a nearly 80-minute meeting in White House's Oval Office with North Korean envoy Kim Yong-Chol, who hand-delivered a letter from the North Korean supremo to Trump.
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Trump says meeting with Yong-Chol went very well
"The meeting (with Yong-Chol) went very well. We'll (he and Kim) be meeting on June 12th in Singapore," Trump said after meeting Yong-Chol, who arrived in Washington DC after two days of talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York.
Meeting
I never said denuclearization happens in one meeting: Trump
Trump acknowledged that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would be a long process. "I never said it goes in one meeting. But the relationships are building...that's a very positive thing," he said. "It will be a beginning. You're talking years of hostility, problems, and hatred between so many different nations. You're going to have a very positive result in the end," he added.
The Process
Trump says without the US, denuclearization wouldn't happen
Trump also said Japan and South Korea are also involved in the process, but claimed: "Everybody wants the United States. So, we're going to help. Without us, it wouldn't happen." He added: "I think you see a lot of very positive things happening with (Chinese) President Xi, who has helped me quite a bit with this (process). So, we'll see where it leads."
On Canceling Summit
Trump claims he never canceled the meeting with Kim
Trump also claimed he never canceled the summit with Kim, adding his letter to the North Korean leader was in response to their statements. He said: "My letter was a response to their letter. I didn't cancel the meeting. I canceled it in response to a very tough statement." "We are meeting with the Chairman (Kim Jong-un) on June 12 (in Singapore)," he added.
Discussions
I think Yong-Chol wants to see denuclearization happen: Trump
The US President said the letter delivered by Yong-chol was very interesting and nice. "This was literally going to be the delivery of a letter, and it ended up being a two-hour conversation with (North Korea's) second-most powerful man." "We (he and Yong-chol) talked about almost everything. We talked about sanctions," Trump added. He added that even Kim Yong-Chol was committed to denuclearization.
Sanctions
Existing sanctions on North Korea to remain
Trump, however, said the current level of sanctions on North Korea would remain. "It's going to remain what it is now. I don't even want to use the term 'maximum pressure' anymore because we're getting along," he said. He said the United States was unlikely to offer much aid to North Korea, which would be taken care of by South Korea and Japan.
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North Korea has a potential to be a great country
Trump said the US would ensure Kim's security. "We're going to make sure when this (denuclearization) is over, it's (North Korea's nuclear program) over. It's not going to be starting up again. I think South Korea, Japan, and China are going to help a lot."