http://www.scmp.com/frontpage/international

Monday, 09 April, 2018

 

North Korea tells US that Kim Jong-un is ready to discuss nukes with Donald Trump

 

It is the first time the offer was made directly to Washington, after it was previously conveyed through South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong

 

North Korea’s government has communicated with the United States to say that leader Kim Jong-un is ready to discuss his nuclear weapons programme with US President Donald Trump, officials said Sunday, increasing the likelihood that the unprecedented summit will actually occur.

 

The confirmation from Pyongyang directly, rather than from third countries like South Korea, has created more confidence within Trump’s administration about the wisdom of holding such a meeting, as US officials make secretive preparations.

 

The Trump administration has long said that if the North Koreans weren’t ready to discuss giving up their nuclear programme, there was no reason for the two countries to hold negotiations.

 

Trump took his own administration and other countries by surprise last month when he accepted an unusual offer from Kim to hold a meeting.

 

The North had conveyed the invitation to a visiting delegation from South Korea, which in turn travelled to Washington and relayed the message to Trump.

 

The president said yes to the meeting on the spot, even though the US had not yet heard directly from North Korea about Kim’s intentions.

 

 

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