U.S. President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump on Thursday shared a "very nice" letter he said was sent to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The letter effusively praises Trump while teasing a possible second meeting between the leaders.
"Wishing that the invariable trust and confidence in Your Excellency Mr. President will be further strengthened in the future process of taking practical actions, I extend my conviction that the epochal progress in promoting DPRK-U.S. relations will bring our next meeting forward," Kim wrote in the letter dated July 6, referencing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name.
Trump and Kim met in Singapore last month during an historic sit-down between the U.S. and the North.
"I firmly believe that the strong will, sincere efforts and unique approach of myself and Your Excellency Mr. President aimed at opening up a new future between the DPRK and the U.S. will surely come to fruition," Kim added.
File photo
The letter, sent last week, was since followed by a contentious two-day meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean officials that ended with a lengthy, barb-filled statement from the North.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of making a "unilateral and gangster-like" demand for the North's denuclearization after the two-day talks concluded.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in maintained Friday that his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un is serious about change, despite concerns that the North is not taking its denuclearization agreements with Seoul and Washington seriously.Drawing on his two meetings with the North's leader, Moon said during a lecture while visiting Singapore that "Chairman Kim has a great desire to break away from ideological confrontations and develop North Korea into a normal country.""We must create a chance for North Korea to fulfill its role as a responsible member of the international community," he was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.Hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that "great progress" was being made with the North, while posting images of a letter from Chairman Kim expressing optimism for their future ties.However, American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returned from negotiations in Pyongyang last week without any clear denuclearization plan, and North Korea also delayed talks with the U.S. that were expected to take place Thursday.Following criticisms that Seoul and Washington have already conceded too much to the North by suspending military drills, Moon insisted that "corresponding measures" by South Korea and the U.S. could help speed up Pyongyang's denuclearization.He also emphasized that sanctions would only be removed after North Korea completely abandons its nukes.SKorea's Moon says North's criticism of US a negotiating strategySeoul denies forcing North Koreans to defectUN aid chief says 'clear evidence of humanitarian need' in North Korea
Kim wants North Korea to be 'normal': South's leader
A major sticking point between the two sides has been Washington's plan for North Korea's complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.
Pyongyang has consistently demanded a more gradual process based on developing mutual trust.
Pompeo, Trump's point person for all things North Korea, conceded Washington and Pyongyang "still have a long ways to go.
"But the commitment that the North Koreans made – frankly, that Chairman Kim personally made to President Trump – remains, has been reinforced," he told reporters during an unannounced visit to Afghanistan.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that North Korea's criticism of the United States after a meeting in Pyongyang was part of its negotiating strategy and the talks between the two are on the "right track".Moon made the remarks during talks with the Singaporean president and prime minister in the city state, his office said.North Korea accused the United States on Saturday of making "gangster-like" demands in talks on denuclearisation, contradicting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who said the old enemies had made progress on key issues.Trump suggests China might be interfering in US-North Korea talksSeoul denies forcing North Koreans to defect
SKorea's Moon says North's criticism of US a negotiating strategy
In another sign that relations have strained since Kim sent the letter, CNN reported that North Korean officials failed to show up for a meeting with their U.S. counterparts in the demilitarized zone Thursday.
The meeting was to focus on the return of remains of America's war dead killed during the Korean War.
In a statement to Anadolu Agency, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the U.S. was informed "midday" that the North Koreans wanted to move the meeting back to July 15.
"We will be ready," she said.
Pompeo ignored a reporter's question about the "snub" while he was traveling to Brussels, Belgium, CNN reported.