Fra Zerohedge:
Update: President Trump has tweeted his first remarks since accepting the invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim. Trump explained the background:
“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. “
And noted confidently that:
“Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”
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!
Oh to be a fly on the wall at that meeting!
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As we detailed earlier, while speaking to reporters at the White House, South Korean envoy Chung Eui-Yong said, and the White House confirmed, that Trump has accepted to meet Kim Jong Un, by some time in May, in what would be a historic first: no sitting American president has ever met a North Korean leader.
Here is the White House confirmation:
- TRUMP TO ACCEPT INVITE TO MEET WITH N. KOREA’S KIM: WHITE HOUSE
His full remarks below:
WATCH: Full remarks of South Korean security adviser Chung Eui-Yong: “Kim [Jong Un] pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.” http://fxn.ws/2HhPNJf
Chung Eui-yong made the announcement during a news conference outside the White House after meeting with Trump administration officials. Chung said the North Korean leader has expressed his “eagerness to meet with President Trump as soon as possible.”
SoKo security adviser Chung Eui-Yong: “[Kim Jong Un] expressed his eagerness to meet @realDonaldTrump as soon as possible.”
Chung had led a South Korean delegation earlier in the week on a historic trip to Pyongyang. During the trip, the envoys became the first South Korean officials to meet with Kim since he took power in 2011.
Earlier this week, the South Korean envoys announced that Kim told them he is willing to begin negotiations with the United States on abandoning nuclear weapons and that he would suspend all nuclear and missile tests while engaged in talks.
Chung also told Trump that Kim Jong Un “said he’s committed to denuclearization.”
While the Trump administration greeted the offer cautiously, expressing both hope that talks can happen and skepticism at Kim’s sincerity, Trump “appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization.”
SoKo security adviser Chung Eui-Yong: “@realDonaldTrump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong Un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization.”
Trump’s eagerness to meet is at odds with what SecState Rex Tillerson said earlier today on North Korea: “We’re a long way from negotiations. We just need to be very clear-eyed and realistic about it.”
Chung added that he “explained to POTUS that his leadership and his maximum pressure policy together with international solidarity brought us to this juncture.”
As reported earlier, Trump had touted the announcement Thursday night to reporters at the White House before it was delivered by the South Korean official, characterizing it as “major.”
“It’s almost beyond that,” Trump told ABC News’s Jonathan Karl when asked if the announcement was about negotiations. “Hopefully, you will give me credit.”
Finally, where will the two meet? TBD:
- WHITE HOUSE SAYS TIME, PLACE OF MEETING YET TO BE DETERMINED
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Earlier
In typical reality show style, President Trump managed to build up a wall of suspense ahead of tonight’s South Korean delegation announcement at 7pm. However, it appears that much of this excitement may be for nothing: according to CNN and Fox leaks, the announcement will be far less exciting than the “denuclearization” declaration some had expected, and instead Kim Jong Un invited Trump to meet in the message that was delivered by the South Korean delegation.
#breaking North Korea leader Kim Jong Un invited US President Trump to meet in the message that was delivered by the South Korean delegation, according to a senior US official and a former US senior official.
Whether Trump will accept the invitation, and what conditions he may have will likely be unveiled in the next few hours. However, if the president was hoping to offset his “trade war” with a diplomatic detente with a potential “nuclear war” opponent, this may be just the right opportunity.
