Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to meet with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
In a series of developments, the US President will discuss missile and nuclear programmes following months of tensions between the two leaders.
“President Trump has said for some time that he was open to talks and he would willingly meet with Kim when conditions were right. And I think in the president’s judgment that time has arrived now,” said US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
If Trump meets with Kim Jong-un, it will be the first meeting between a US and North Korean leader.
Trump confirmed the meeting on Friday in a tweet, stating: “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!”
A specific location or date is yet to be confirmed.
“Does this mean Chairman Kim is coming to Washington or does it mean the president of the United States is going to travel to North Korea?” asked Jim Walsh, a senior research associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s security studies programme.
There are possibilities for the meeting to be held in China, Japan or North Korea – more neutral locations.
The White House said in a statement: “President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon. He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong-un at a place and time to be determined. We look forward to the denuclearisation of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain.”
The only other occasion that a US President has come close to meeting a North Korean leader was in 2000 when Bill Clinton came close to agreeing to a meeting Kim Jong-il.