North Korea's Kim sent message to Trump on nuclear talks: report
[SEOUL] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a "conciliatory message" to US President Donald Trump amid stalled nuclear negotiations, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported on Monday.
Mr Kim's "letter-like" message to Mr Trump was delivered on Friday through an unspecified channel, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed diplomatic source. The report did not include details about the substance of the message but said they related to US-North Korea talks.
On Sunday, the office of South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said Mr Kim had sent a letter to his counterpart in Seoul saying he wants to hold more inter-Korean summits next year to achieve denuclearisation of the peninsula.
Neither the US State Department nor the US Embassy in Seoul had an immediate comment about the report of Mr Kim's message to Mr Trump when contacted by Reuters.
At a summit with Mr Trump in Singapore in June, Mr Kim vowed to work towards denuclearisation.
However, both sides have struggled to make progress on this matter. They are also yet to reschedule a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol after an abrupt cancellation in November.
Pyongyang's state media has credited Mr Trump for his "willingness" to continue dialogue, but has also slammed the State Department for tightening sanctions.
The stalled negotiations had an impact on inter-Korean ties, including Mr Kim's unrealised plan to visit Seoul this year as agreed their summit in Pyongyang in September.
The Chosun Ilbo report also said Mr Kim wrote in the letter to Mr Moon that he would come to the South "in the near future" after giving a New Year address on Tuesday.
Mr Kim's New Year address provides a rare public appearance for the young leader and is closely watched by neighbouring countries as it is seen setting the tone for his domestic and foreign policies.
According to Mr Moon's spokesman, Mr Kim said in the letter to the South Korean president that he was sorry his previously planned trip to Seoul this year did not take place, expressing his "strong resolve" to make it happen while monitoring the situation.
REUTERS
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Putin plans to meet Xi in China days after his new term starts
Biden vetoes bid to repeal US labour board rule on contract, franchise workers
Economic leaders of South Korea, Japan, China say FX volatility is a risk
US automakers win extension on use of Chinese graphite in EV tax credits
US service sector contracts in April; price pressures up
Thaksin’s daughter calls central bank independence an ‘obstacle’