Trump said that North Korean leader Kim responded to his message
Kyiv • UNN
U.S. President Donald Trump said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his recent message, calling the exchange “very positive.” This came after Trump ordered a reduction in military exercises with South Korea.
United States President Donald Trump said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his recent outreach, a day after he ordered the Pentagon to scale back exercises with longtime ally South Korea, UNN reports, citing Al Jazeera.
Details
When asked by reporters in the Oval Office on Monday why Kim had not responded to his request for a conversation, Trump replied: "How do you know he didn't respond?"
The U.S. president went on to describe the exchange as "very positive," without providing further details.
There was no immediate comment from North Korea.
On Sunday, Trump instructed the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with longtime Asian ally South Korea.
Since Trump's and Kim's last meeting in 2019, North Korea has significantly strengthened its ties with Russia while maintaining close relations with China.
North Korean troops fought alongside Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, and last week Ukraine said that North Korean-made missiles had been used in a Russian ballistic missile attack in Zaporizhzhia.
The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized North Korea's military support for Russia in Ukraine, but on Monday the U.S. president said: "Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect."
"I understand him. He understands me," he said.
Seoul says Trump-Kim summit could promote peace on the Korean Peninsula
Yonhap reports that South Korea's Ministry of Unification on Tuesday expressed hope for a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stressing that such a meeting, if held, could help establish peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
"If held, it is expected to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as a transition to a phase of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation," a ministry representative said.
This is also the ministry's "consistent" position regarding any potential summit between North Korea and the United States, the official added.
Regarding the potential resumption of dialogue, the ministry representative said that Seoul was ready to act as a "catalyst" in facilitating it, adding that there would be "various ways" to fulfill this role, including through a peace envoy.
The ministry will continue close consultations with relevant government agencies to further develop a plan to stimulate dialogue, the official said.