Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim by May: South Korean official

[webfact]

Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim by May: South Korean official

 

FILE PHOTO - A combination photo shows a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) handout of Kim Jong Un released on May 10, 2016, and Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/KCNA handout via Reuters/File Photo & REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet by May and Kim has pledged to refrain from further nuclear or missile tests, South Korea's national security chief said on Thursday after briefing White House officials on talks between Seoul and Pyongyang.

 

"Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile test," South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong told reporters at the White House.

 

"President Trump ... said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May," Chung said.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Eric Beech)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-09

[webfact]

Trump ready to meet North Korean leader Kim by May: South Korean official

By David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick

 

Chung Eui-yong, head of the presidential National Security Office, Suh Hoon, the chief of the South's National Intelligence Service, and other delegates arrive at a military airport in Seongnam, South Korea, March 6, 2018. REUTERS/Song Kyung-Seok/Pool

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed a willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by May in response to Kim's invitation to hold the first meeting between leaders of the United States and North Korea, a South Korean envoy said.

 

Kim has committed to "denuclearization" and to suspending nuclear or missile tests, South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong told reporters at the White House after briefing Trump on South Korean officials' meeting with Kim on Monday.

 

A meeting between Kim and Trump, who have exchanged bellicose insults in the past year that have raised fear of war, would mark a dramatic breakthrough in efforts to resolve the tense standoff over North Korea's effort to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

 

"I told him (Trump) that in our meeting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that he's committed to denuclearization," Chung said. "Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests."

 

"He expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible," he said. "President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May to achieve denuclearization."

 

There was no immediate comment from the White House on the South Korean envoy's comments.

 

Trump's aides have been wary of North Korea's diplomatic overtures because of its history of reneging on international commitments.

 

Chung and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon flew to Washington earlier on Thursday to explain North Korea's stance on possible future talks with Washington and the prospect of Pyongyang suspending nuclear tests if the security of the North's government is assured.

 

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that though "talks about talks" might be possible with Pyongyang, denuclearization negotiations were likely a long way off.

 

(Reporting David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick in WASHINGTON and Christine Kim in SEOUL, additional reporting by Steve Holland in WASHINGTON, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Aaron Maasho and Kumerra Gemechu in ADDIS ABABA; Editing by Will Dunham, James Dalgleish, Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-09

[webfact]

 

Trump ready to meet North Korean leader Kim by May: South Korean official

By Jeff Mason and Matt Spetalnick

 

South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong, center, and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon, (L), make an announcement about North Korea and the Trump administration outside of the West Wing at the White House in Washington, U.S. March 8, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jung by May in response to Kim's invitation to hold the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit, a South Korean envoy said, marking a potentially dramatic breakthrough in the North Korea nuclear standoff.

 

Kim has committed to "denuclearization" and to suspending nuclear or missile tests, South Korea's National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong told reporters at the White House after briefing Trump on South Korean officials' meeting with Kim on Monday.

 

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump "will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined."

 

She added: "We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain."

 

A meeting between Kim and Trump, who have exchanged bellicose insults in the past year that have raised fear of war, would be a major turnaround after a year in which North Korea has carried out a battery of tests aimed at developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

 

"I told him (Trump) that in our meeting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that he's committed to denuclearization," Chung said. "Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests."

 

"He expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible," he said. "President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May to achieve denuclearization."

 

Trump's aides have been wary of North Korea's diplomatic overtures because of its history of reneging on international commitments.

 

Chung and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon flew to Washington earlier on Thursday to explain North Korea's stance on possible future talks with Washington and the prospect of Pyongyang suspending nuclear tests if the security of the North's government is assured.

 

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that though "talks about talks" might be possible with Pyongyang, denuclearization negotiations were likely a long way off.

 

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said in response to the announcement in Washington that North Korea must commit to abandoning nuclear development completely in order for meaningful talks to take place with Pyongyang.

 

(Reporting David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick in WASHINGTON and Christine Kim in SEOUL, additional reporting by Steve Holland in WASHINGTON, Ben Blanchard in BEIJING and Aaron Maasho and Kumerra Gemechu in ADDIS ABABA; Editing by Will Dunham, James Dalgleish, Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-09

[samran]

You just know what Donny is going to say after the meeting

 

”I’ve just met with President Kim. It’s was a wonderful, wonderful meeting. 

 

“He is a fabulous man, really misunderstood. We got along great. Really great. And we can do deals with him. 

 

“I now have an excellent, excellent, relationship with President Kim. 

 

“He has great concern and respect for his people. Great concern and respect. People don’t get to see that. He’s very interested in America. Very interested. 

 

“I’ve invited him to the White House for talks in November. The talks will be excellent. We can work together, really really really well. He’s fabulous and I trust him”. 

 

 

Edited March 9, 2018 by samran

[ExpatOilWorker]

Where will they actually meet? In one of those blue huts at the DMZ?

[FreddieRoyle]

This is really great news. I noticed there has been a serious drop in tensions between NK and the US, I think we all remember it was only a year ago that Guam was preparing to be nuked, and a nuclear war seemed a very real possibility. Well done Trump, you are achieving real results. So, putting a professional deal maker into the white house was the perfect choice after all.

[BuaBS]

Seems Kim is not as smart , the sanctions must be hitting hard.

If he's really going to meet Trump and denuclearize , he better start digging a grave next to Sadam & Ghadaffi.

[PremiumLane]

will they give each other hair tips? 

[Credo]

56 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

This is really great news. I noticed there has been a serious drop in tensions between NK and the US, I think we all remember it was only a year ago that Guam was preparing to be nuked, and a nuclear war seemed a very real possibility. Well done Trump, you are achieving real results. So, putting a professional deal maker into the white house was the perfect choice after all.

The typical nonsense.   This is and has been the NK strategy for decades.   They do a lot of threatening, sabre rattling, sent off some missiles, and do some tests.    In return the west imposes sanctions, then more sanctions, then stiffer sanctions.   Then once the sanctions bite hard enough, NK decides it will talk.    Then the sanctions are eased and all is well until NK wants something, then it's rinse and repeat as necessary.   

 

 

[champers]

6 minutes ago, Credo said:

The typical nonsense.   This is and has been the NK strategy for decades.   They do a lot of threatening, sabre rattling, sent off some missiles, and do some tests.    In return the west imposes sanctions, then more sanctions, then stiffer sanctions.   Then once the sanctions bite hard enough, NK decides it will talk.    Then the sanctions are eased and all is well until NK wants something, then it's rinse and repeat as necessary.   

 

 

This will be the first time a US President has met a N Korean leader, so it is not a rinse and repeat event; it is a whole new departure. Will it succeed? Who knows?

[Credo]

47 minutes ago, champers said:

This will be the first time a US President has met a N Korean leader, so it is not a rinse and repeat event; it is a whole new departure. Will it succeed? Who knows?

It is very questionable for a President to meet with Kim.   The devil is in the details and Trump is not known for getting the details right.   Not even close.   It will be a coup for the NK leader, who will have a photo op.   

 

Be aware that Kim is pulling all the strings.   He is in charge.  

 

And not to be pedantic, but Bill Clinton visited NK.   He was not President at the time, though.

 

[mfd101]

Mmmm, so having a loony in the White House can - possibly - be productive. Apart from the theoretical advantages of discontinuity - throw everything up in the air and see where it falls - , the fact that Trump is a loony means that his foes have to deal with massive unpredictability in a way that they don't have to when dealing with relatively sane people. This makes them more careful ...

[Boon Mee]

Trump isn't legitimately referred to as the great negotiator for nothing. 

Edited March 9, 2018 by Boon Mee

[simple1]

1 hour ago, champers said:

This will be the first time a US President has met a N Korean leader, so it is not a rinse and repeat event; it is a whole new departure. Will it succeed? Who knows?

Basically Trump had no choice other to meet with Kim as he had backed himself into a corner with the invite, not a good move. Currently Trump Administration doesn't have diplomats with experience with N.K., nor an Ambassador for S.K. Let's hope the meet achieves the starting point for a pathway to reconciliation, but don't hold your breath.

[ExpatOilWorker]

1 hour ago, Credo said:

It is very questionable for a President to meet with Kim.   The devil is in the details and Trump is not known for getting the details right.   Not even close.   It will be a coup for the NK leader, who will have a photo op.   

 

Be aware that Kim is pulling all the strings.   He is in charge.  

 

And not to be pedantic, but Bill Clinton visited NK.   He was not President at the time, though.

 

I wonder if they will shake hands. Maybe only after secret service has checked Kim for VX nerve agent.

[car720]

3 hours ago, BuaBS said:

Seems Kim is not as smart , the sanctions must be hitting hard.

If he's really going to meet Trump and denuclearize , he better start digging a grave next to Sadam & Ghadaffi.

I will wait for the end game though.  This little guy is a master of the stall.

[janclaes47]

How the Trump haters gonna play this card?

[blazes]

It will help to divert attention away from the Russian bs....

 

or, will Kim Fat One be more newsworthy than Stormy Daniels?

[mike324]

4 hours ago, FreddieRoyle said:

This is really great news. I noticed there has been a serious drop in tensions between NK and the US, I think we all remember it was only a year ago that Guam was preparing to be nuked, and a nuclear war seemed a very real possibility. Well done Trump, you are achieving real results. So, putting a professional deal maker into the white house was the perfect choice after all.

After two missiles flew over Japan and escalation of war? No it was not worth any of it. Its not the first time NK wanted to denuclearize in exchange for more money. Trump is an idiot for escalating the tensions in the region. Kim has the upper hand no matter what. But talks is always good, better than nothing.

[simoh1490]

I just hope they've both got solid diplomatic, communications and negotiating teams on they're respective side, otherwise it's a bit bevis meets buthead!

[jcsmith]

This was an interesting turn of events. While it seems it may have been another fly by night decision with the state department saying earlier in the day nothing like this was planned, it has the potential to go either way. They could come to a mutually beneficial agreement, and I wouldn't discount that. Trump needs it. Kim needs it. Or it could also turn really bad, really fast when you put two very volatile guys into the same room. It's worth a shot though.

[DrTuner]

Maybe Don will learn some karate chops and clip the head off Kim on live TV. Anything else and I'd be disappointed & bored. 

[sammieuk1]

I got a bigger weapon than you rocket boy and I'm more insane . 

[RichardColeman]

Admit it, the first this you thought was : 

 

[Morch]

8 hours ago, car720 said:

I will wait for the end game though.  This little guy is a master of the stall.

 

I think he'll just wear one of them hidden high heels thingies.

[Morch]

8 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

I just hope they've both got solid diplomatic, communications and negotiating teams on they're respective side, otherwise it's a bit bevis meets buthead!

 

+

 

6 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Maybe Don will learn some karate chops and clip the head off Kim on live TV. Anything else and I'd be disappointed & bored. 

 

=

 

Celebrity Deathmatch!

 

[Jingthing]

9 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

How the Trump haters gonna play this card?

Easy. 

Hope for the best as that benefits the world.

Don't normalize "trump" though.

[boomerangutang]

10 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump isn't legitimately referred to as the great negotiator for nothing. 

They haven't negotiated anything yet.  Judging by recent negotiations, Trump is piss poor.  Some examples:

>>>  agreed to a clean 'Dreamers' deal suggested by Feinstein.  Next day: nixed it.

>>>  agreed to ban bump stocks.  Next day, after talking with NRA (they pay $33 million for direct access) .....Trump is off that track.  

>>>  Trump has flip-flopped on most things he's supposedly agreed to.  If I made a list, it would be book-sized, small font.

 

As for meeting with Kim in May.  there's a 50% chance it won't happen.  Most likely reason:  Trump will make pre-conditions, Kim will say 'no.'   Meeting called off.

 

The 'Great Negotiator' was supposed to meet with Mexican prez on two different occasions.  Both times, Trump made last-minute requirements - both times the Mexican prez turned his plane around.  The two haven't met since Trump went to Mexico City during the campaign - promised one thing to the Mexican prez, then, ......that same evening in AZ shouted to his adoring fans something opposite to what he promised earlier that day.

 

Kim should know that Trump's word is mud.  Isn't worth a satang.  

[boomerangutang]

As an American, I don't trust Trump for a NY minute to negotiate - with any world leader - on anything.  Certainly not something as important as nuclear disarmament with NK.  He can't even be trusted to not tweet ridiculous things at 4:20 am.  Not long ago, his own lawyer had to lie, and say he secretly commandeered Trump's hand-held device, put in Trump's password, and tweeted something ridiculous - all without letting his boss know.  The reason the lawyer put forth such a ridiculous series of lies?   ....because Trump tweeted something ridiculous, and the lawyer had to try and cover for him.

 

If it was a Saturday Night Live skit, it might elicit a grin.  .....but it's the prez.  A man who can't be trusted by his own staff to not tweet or say or do something totally screwed.  Sad indeed.

 

The man is off in Covfefe land.

[Jingthing]

I remember when Nixon "opened up" China. It was seen as a historical accomplishment then and it was. But Nixon was still impeached and resigned in shame. 

 

We don't even know for sure yet if this meeting will actually happen (probably yes, but wait) and also what will come of it. So slow down with proclaiming "trump" as the great orange North Korean hope or assuming that it will save his criminally corrupt presidency.