SIn an extraordinary development after months of sabre-rattling and trading of personal insults, US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s reclusive dictator Kim Jong Un are set to hold a face-to-face meeting “by May” over Pyongyang’s controversial nuclear and missile programmes.
Much to everyone’s surprise, it was Kim who extended the invitation through South Korean officials on Thursday, pledging to refrain from further nuclear tests. And Trump readily agreed for the meeting at a time and place still to be determined.
“Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!” Trump tweeted, after South Korea’s National Security Advisor Chung Eui-Yong conveyed the invitation to Trump.
Kim’s invitation is being viewed as a big diplomatic victory for Trump’s muscular push against North Korea by intensifying the sanctions regime that is thought to have virtually crippled Pyongyang lately -- and a far cry from the time Trump called Kim a “little rocket man” and threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea, and Kim hit back, calling Trump a “dotard” and a “lunatic” and threatening to bomb Washington.
Trump, in his tweet, noted that Kim had spoken about denuclearization with the South Korean representatives. “Not just a freeze,” he noted, adding: “Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time.”
“President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon,” the White House said in a statement, noting: “He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined. We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain.”
Chung, the South Korean NSA, delivered a statement outside the White House West Wing, saying: “President Trump said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May.” In Seoul, the presidential Blue House clarified that the meeting would occur by the end of May. Chung did not say where the meeting would be held.
“I explained to President Trump that his leadership and his maximum pressure policy, together with international solidarity, brought us to this juncture. I expressed (South Korean) President Moon Jae-in’s personal gratitude for President Trump’s leadership,” Chung said.
Stating that Kim had voiced his commitment to denuclearization at his meeting with South Korean officials, Chung said the North Korean leader also pledged that his country would refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.
“He (Kim) expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible,” Chung said. As for the US’s joint military exercises with South Korea, he said Kim “understands” that these routine exercises “must continue”.
Chung said South Korea, along with the US, Japan, and many partners around the world, remain fully and resolutely committed to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, adding: “Along with President Trump, we are optimistic about continuing a diplomatic process to test the possibility of a peaceful resolution.”
Reflecting on the developments, a senior administration official said: “Part of that message (conveyed by the South Korean official) was a commitment to denuclearize. It also was a commitment to refrain from testing nuclear weapons or missiles.”
Questioned on the negotiations, the US official said: “look, at this point we’re not even talking about negotiations, rightIJ What we’re talking about is an invitation by the leader of North Korea to meet face to face with the President of the United States. The President has accepted that invitation.”