With the goal of achieving, “permanent denuclearization,” President Donald Trump agreed to meet the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un. The announcement was made by Chung Eui-yong during a brief along with a quick statement outside the White House after an official meetings with Trump administration.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House press secretary said that President Donald Trump “will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong Un at a place and time to be determined.” She further said that “We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea,” in a statement that came soon after the South Korean announcement. “In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain.”
President Donald Trump also tweeted about an update about meeting and posted that, “sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached” over North Korea’s nuclear program. He further said that North Korean Leader, Kim discussed “denuclearization” with officials from South Korean and cease missile testing during the talks. His full Twitter post was, “Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”
“Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!” he tweeted. “At this point, we’re not even talking about negotiations,” the official said. “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.”
“If we look at the history of these negotiations that have taken place under prior administrations, they have often led to the relinquishing of pressure,” a Trump administration official said. “They’ve often led to concessions being made to North Korea in return for talks. President Trump has been very clear from the beginning that he is not prepared to reward North Korea in exchange for talks.”
White House officials did not appear alongside Chung as he delivered the announcement when he told the President that, “his leadership and maximum pressure policy together with international solidarity” brought parties to the verge of talks. “I expressed President Moon Jae-in’s personal gratitude for President Trump’s leadership,” Chung added.
“Kim Jong Un said that he’s committed to denuclearization. Kim pledged that North Korea would refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests,” Chung said, adding that the North Korean leader has expressed “eagerness” to meet with Trump. “Along with President Trump, we are optimistic about continuing a diplomatic process to test the possibility of a peaceful resolution,” Chung said. “The Republic of Korea, the United States, and our partners stand together in insisting that we not repeat the mistakes of the past, and that the pressure will continue until North Korea matches these words with concrete actions.”
