WASHINGTON: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump are to meet in person as early as May, it has been announced, an extraordinary overture after months of mutual hostility.
News of the meeting was delivered by South Korean officials after talks with Mr Trump at the White House.
They passed a verbal message from Mr Kim, saying the North Korean leader was “committed to denuclearisation”. South Korea’s President Moon Jae-said the news “came like a miracle”.
“If President Trump and Chairman Kim meet following an inter-Korean summit, complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula will be put on the right track in earnest,” he said.
The development came days after the South Korean delegation met Mr Kim in Pyongyang.
Speaking outside the White House after briefing Mr Trump, South Korean National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong passed on a message that Mr Kim was “committed to denuclearisation” and had “pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests”.
Mr Trump said the development was “great progress” but that sanctions on North Korea would remain in place until a firm agreement was reached.
In a statement sent to the Washington Post, North Korea’s UN ambassador said the “courageous decision” of Mr Kim would helped secure “peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the East Asia region”.
North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its well-documented human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws.
Trending
- Religious scholars should play their role in fostering unity and solidarity in society: PM AJK
- Lawyer’s delegation led by CBA Nasir Masood Mughal Advocate calls on PM AJK
- Govt employees salary likely to be increased by 12 percent
- Yasin Malik is being punished for his non-violent political belief by the current extremist government of India.
- WPFD observes in Kotli, freedom of press linked with resolving journalist’s issues, Panel Discussion
- PML-N purpose is to serve the people, build and develop Pakistan: Begum Tahseen Fawad
- DOA welcomes Mr. Ali Hassan Zehri, on becoming the advisor to CM
- Government deals every kind of mafia and their patrons with an iron hand: PM AJK