President Donald Trump will meet with Kim Jong-un by May amid a commitment from the North to denuclearization, South Korea’s national security adviser said Thursday.
“Along with President Trump, we are optimistic about continuing a diplomatic process to test the possibility of a peaceful resolution,” Chung Eui-yong told reporters outside of the White House. “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 its words with concrete actions.”
A delegation of South Korean officials met with Kim Jong-un earlier this week, and Chung briefed the president on the meeting Thursday. In the meeting, Chung said, Kim “said he is committed to denuclearization,” pledged to “refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests,” and recognized that routine joint military exercises between the South and the U.S. “must continue.”
“He expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible,” Chung said. “President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization.”
Chung suggested that the administration’s strategy of maximum economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea was a driving force behind the apparent diplomatic shift.
“I explained to President Trump that his leadership and his maximum pressure policy, together with international solidarity brought us to this juncture,” he said. “I expressed President Moon Jae-in’s personal gratitude for President Trump’s leadership.”
The meeting should prove interesting. Trump and Kim have exchanged a barrage of insults since Trump entered office, with the president dubbing Kim “little rocket man” and Kim describing Trump as a “dotard.” Moon and Kim are also slated to hold a summit meeting in April.
Earlier in the week, top intelligence officials expressed skepticism over the sudden openness to talks. They harkened back to successive rounds of negotiations in the past that had failed. “Maybe this is a breakthrough,” Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Tuesday. “I seriously doubt it. But like I said, hope springs eternal.”
Vice President Mike Pence said in mid-February that the administration is open to talks with the regime—but that its strategy of “maximum pressure” would continue until Pyongyang makes significant steps toward denuclearization. “The maximum pressure campaign is going to continue and intensify,” he told the Washington Post. “But if you want to talk, we’ll talk.”
