US President Donald Trump sought on Thursday to placate North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un after Pyongyang threatened to scrap an unprecedented summit, saying Kim`s security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi`s Libya, unless that could not be reached.

In rambling remarks in the White House`s Oval Office in which he also sharply criticized China over trade, Trump said that as far as he knew the meeting with Kim was still on track, but that the North Korean leader was possibly being influenced by Beijing after two recent visits he made there.&nbsp;

Trump distanced himself from comments by his national security adviser John Bolton that North Korea angrily denounced when casting doubt on the summit, which is planned for June 12 in Singapore.

"North Korea is actually talking to us about times and everything else as though nothing happened," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.&nbsp;

Trump said he was not pursuing the "Libya model" in getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Bolton has repeatedly suggested the Libya model of unilateral disarmament for North Korea, most recently on Sunday.

Gaddafi was deposed and killed after Libyans joined the 2011 Arab Spring protests, aided by NATO allies who had encouraged him to give up his banned weapons of mass destruction under a 2003 deal.&nbsp; 
 
In a statement on Wednesday that threatened withdrawal from the summit, North Korea`s first vice minister of foreign affairs, Kim Kye Gwan, derided as "absurd" Bolton`s suggestion of a deal similar to that under which components of Libya`s nuclear program were shipped to the United States.

"(The) world knows too well that our country is neither Libya nor Iraq which have met miserable fate," he said in apparent reference to the demises of Gaddafi and Iraq’s former president Saddam Hussein.

Trump said the deal he was looking at would give Kim - a hereditary ruler who presides over a state widely criticized for serious human rights abuses - "protections that will be very strong."

"He would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump said.

"The Libya model was a much different model. We decimated that country," he said, adding that it would only come into play "most likely" if a deal could not be reached with North Korea.

Trump stressed that North Korea would have to abandon its nuclear weapons.&nbsp;

"We cannot let that country have nukes. We just can`t do it," he said of North Korea, which has been working on missiles capable of hitting the United States.

The United States has demanded the "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantlement of North Korea`s nuclear weapons program.

Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and given no indication that it is willing to go beyond statements of broad support for the concept of universal denuclearisation. 
 
It has said in previous, failed talks that it could consider giving up its arsenal if the United States provided security guarantees by removing its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan.

 
Trump: If it happens, it happens 
 
Trump told reporters that if the meeting with Kim happens then "it happens" and if not the United States will go on to the next step. Again he did not elaborate. 
 
Cancellation of the summit, the first between U.S. and North Korean leaders, would deal a major blow to what could be the biggest diplomatic achievement of Trump`s presidency, one his supporters have suggested would be worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. 
 
The current uncertainty comes at a time when Trump`s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has drawn criticism internationally and moving the US&nbsp;embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has fuelled deadly violence on the Israel-Gaza border. 
On Wednesday, Bolton brushed aside the North Korean remarks against him and said odds were still in favour of the summit going ahead. 
 
"We are going to do everything we can to come to a successful meeting, but we are not going to back away from the objective of that meeting which is complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," he said.

The North Korean statements on Wednesday marked a dramatic reversal in tone from recent months and took U.S. officials off guard after months of easing tensions.&nbsp;

North Korea also called off a round of talks with South Korea, whose president, Moon Jae-in, is due to meet Trump on Washington next Tuesday, citing joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which both allies have said will go ahead as planned.

North Korea`s chief negotiator with the South called the South Korean government "ignorant and incompetent" on Thursday and threatened to halt all talks with Seoul unless its demands are met. 
The drastic change in tone came after months of easing tension and just days after North Korea had announced it would publicly shut its nuclear test site next week and improved the mood for a U.S. summit by releasing the three detained Americans last week.&nbsp;

Some analysts and US&nbsp;officials believe it may have been testing Trump’s willingness to soften the U.S. demand for complete denuclearisation. North Korea could also be trying to capitalize on an apparent gap in messaging between Bolton and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo, who returned from his second visit to Pyongyang last week with the freed Americans, has taken a softer line than Bolton, stressing the economic benefits, possibly including U.S. investment, that could flow to North Korea if it agrees to denuclearize.

Kim Kye Gwan said North Korea would never give up its nuclear program in exchange for trade with the United States.

Trump said Kim Jong-un's security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi`s Libya

US President Donald Trump sought on Thursday to placate North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un after Pyongyang threatened to scrap an unprecedented summit, saying Kim`s security would be guaranteed in any deal and his country would not suffer the fate of Muammar Gaddafi`s Libya, unless that could not be reached. In rambling remarks in the White House`s Oval Office in which he also sharply criticized China over trade, Trump said that as far as he knew the meeting with Kim was still on track, but that the North Korean leader was possibly being influenced by Beijing after two recent visits he made there. Trump distanced himself from comments by his national security adviser John Bolton that North Korea angrily denounced when casting doubt on the summit, which is planned for June 12 in Singapore. "North Korea is actually talking to us about times and everything else as though nothing happened," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump said he was not pursuing the "Libya model" in getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Bolton has repeatedly suggested the Libya model of unilateral disarmament for North Korea, most recently on Sunday. Gaddafi was deposed and killed after Libyans joined the 2011 Arab Spring protests, aided by NATO allies who had encouraged him to give up his banned weapons of mass destruction under a 2003 deal. In a statement on Wednesday that threatened withdrawal from the summit, North Korea`s first vice minister of foreign affairs, Kim Kye Gwan, derided as "absurd" Bolton`s suggestion of a deal similar to that under which components of Libya`s nuclear program were shipped to the United States. "(The) world knows too well that our country is neither Libya nor Iraq which have met miserable fate," he said in apparent reference to the demises of Gaddafi and Iraq’s former president Saddam Hussein. Trump said the deal he was looking at would give Kim - a hereditary ruler who presides over a state widely criticized for serious human rights abuses - "protections that will be very strong." "He would be there, he would be running his country, his country would be very rich," Trump said. "The Libya model was a much different model. We decimated that country," he said, adding that it would only come into play "most likely" if a deal could not be reached with North Korea. Trump stressed that North Korea would have to abandon its nuclear weapons. "We cannot let that country have nukes. We just can`t do it," he said of North Korea, which has been working on missiles capable of hitting the United States. The United States has demanded the "complete, verifiable, and irreversible" dismantlement of North Korea`s nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang has rejected unilateral disarmament and given no indication that it is willing to go beyond statements of broad support for the concept of universal denuclearisation. It has said in previous, failed talks that it could consider giving up its arsenal if the United States provided security guarantees by removing its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan. Trump: If it happens, it happens Trump told reporters that if the meeting with Kim happens then "it happens" and if not the United States will go on to the next step. Again he did not elaborate. Cancellation of the summit, the first between U.S. and North Korean leaders, would deal a major blow to what could be the biggest diplomatic achievement of Trump`s presidency, one his supporters have suggested would be worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. The current uncertainty comes at a time when Trump`s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has drawn criticism internationally and moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has fuelled deadly violence on the Israel-Gaza border. On Wednesday, Bolton brushed aside the North Korean remarks against him and said odds were still in favour of the summit going ahead. "We are going to do everything we can to come to a successful meeting, but we are not going to back away from the objective of that meeting which is complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," he said. The North Korean statements on Wednesday marked a dramatic reversal in tone from recent months and took U.S. officials off guard after months of easing tensions. North Korea also called off a round of talks with South Korea, whose president, Moon Jae-in, is due to meet Trump on Washington next Tuesday, citing joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, which both allies have said will go ahead as planned. North Korea`s chief negotiator with the South called the South Korean government "ignorant and incompetent" on Thursday and threatened to halt all talks with Seoul unless its demands are met. The drastic change in tone came after months of easing tension and just days after North Korea had announced it would publicly shut its nuclear test site next week and improved the mood for a U.S. summit by releasing the three detained Americans last week. Some analysts and US officials believe it may have been testing Trump’s willingness to soften the U.S. demand for complete denuclearisation. North Korea could also be trying to capitalize on an apparent gap in messaging between Bolton and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo, who returned from his second visit to Pyongyang last week with the freed Americans, has taken a softer line than Bolton, stressing the economic benefits, possibly including U.S. investment, that could flow to North Korea if it agrees to denuclearize. Kim Kye Gwan said North Korea would never give up its nuclear program in exchange for trade with the United States.

Trump seeks to placate North Korea's Kim over uncertain summit

North Korea threatened Wednesday to cancel the forthcoming summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump if Washington seeks to push Pyongyang into unilaterally giving up its nuclear arsenal.

It also cancelled high-level talks due Wednesday with Seoul over the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the United States and South Korea, denouncing the drills as a "rude and wicked provocation".

It is a sudden and dramatic return to the the rhetoric of the past by Pyongyang, after months of rapid diplomatic rapprochement on the peninsula.

"If the US is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue," first vice foreign minister Kim Kye Gwan said in a statement carried by state media.

In that case, he added, Pyongyang would have to "reconsider" its participation at the summit, due in Singapore on June 12.

The North's arsenal is expected to be at the top of the agenda of the historic talks, but Pyongyang has long insisted it needs the weapons to defend itself against invasion by the US.

Washington is pressing for its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. But so far the North has not given any public indication of what concessions it is offering, beyond euphemistic commitments to denuclearisation of the "Korean peninsula".

Pyongyang had "made clear on several occasions that precondition for denuclearisation is to put an end to anti-DPRK hostile policy and nuclear threats and blackmail of the United States", minister Kim said.

In the past, Pyongyang has demanded the withdrawal of the US troops stationed in the South to protect it from its neighbour, and an end to Washington's nuclear umbrella over its security ally.

The minister also blasted US National Security Advisor John Bolton's talk of a "Libyan model" for North Korean denuclearisation.

It was a "sinister move to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq", he said. "I cannot suppress indignation at such moves of the US, and harbour doubt about the US sincerity."

The North has long said it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against a US invasion. After giving up his atomic programme, Libyan leader Moamer Khadafi was killed in an uprising backed by NATO bombing.

Minister Kim also dismissed offers by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- who has visited Pyongyang twice in recent weeks, coming back the second time with three released US detainees - for US economic aid if the North denuclearises.

"We have never had any expectation of US support in carrying out our economic construction and will not at all make such a deal in future," Kim said.

In recent weeks, as well as an eye-catching summit with the South's leader last month in the Demilitarized Zone, Kim has twice met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pyongyang has announced it will destroy its nuclear testing site next week.

Analysts said Pyongyang was now trying to redefine the terms of the debate.

"It's a diplomatic tactic," Kim Hyun-wook, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, told AFP, calling it "brinkmanship to change the US position".&nbsp

"It looks like Kim Jong Un was pushed into accepting US demands for 'denuclearisation-first' but is now trying to change its position after normalising North Korea-China relations and securing economic assistance," he added. &nbsp

"The classic North Korean tightrope diplomacy between the US and China has begun."

US officials have repeatedly claimed credit for Washington's "maximum pressure" policy for bringing Pyongyang to the negotiating table.

Joshua Pollack of the Middlebury Institute for International Studies said Pyongyang had been irritated by the "triumphalist tone".

"The North Koreans aren't happy with what they're seeing and hearing," he said. "There is still a yawning gulf between expectations for diplomacy in Pyongyang and Washington, DC."

Earlier KCNA denounced the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the US and South Korea as a "rude and wicked provocation", and Seoul said it had received a message cancelling planned high-level talks "indefinitely".

The two-week drills started last Friday and involves some 100 aircraft from the two allies, including F-22 stealth fighter jets.

Pyongyang's move was "regrettable", said unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun, adding it "contradicts the fundamental spirit and purpose of the Panmunjom Declaration".

Hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War stopped with a ceasefire, leaving the two halves of the peninsula divided by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and still technically at war.

The North has spent decades developing its atomic arsenal and missiles capable of reaching the US, earning itself multiple rounds of UN Security Council resolutions, while Trump and Kim traded personal insults and threats of war last year.

Relations underwent a sudden turnaround as Moon used February's Winter Olympics in the South to broker talks between Washington and Pyongyang.

Washington said it will continue to plan the meeting in Singapore on June 12, with State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert telling reporters it had received "no notification" of a position change by North Korea.

The exercises were "not provocative" and would continue, she added.

It is a sudden and dramatic return to the rhetoric of the past by Pyongyang, after months of rapid diplomatic rapprochement on the peninsula

North Korea threatened Wednesday to cancel the forthcoming summit between leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump if Washington seeks to push Pyongyang into unilaterally giving up its nuclear arsenal. It also cancelled high-level talks due Wednesday with Seoul over the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the United States and South Korea, denouncing the drills as a "rude and wicked provocation". It is a sudden and dramatic return to the the rhetoric of the past by Pyongyang, after months of rapid diplomatic rapprochement on the peninsula. "If the US is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue," first vice foreign minister Kim Kye Gwan said in a statement carried by state media. In that case, he added, Pyongyang would have to "reconsider" its participation at the summit, due in Singapore on June 12. The North's arsenal is expected to be at the top of the agenda of the historic talks, but Pyongyang has long insisted it needs the weapons to defend itself against invasion by the US. Washington is pressing for its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation. But so far the North has not given any public indication of what concessions it is offering, beyond euphemistic commitments to denuclearisation of the "Korean peninsula". Pyongyang had "made clear on several occasions that precondition for denuclearisation is to put an end to anti-DPRK hostile policy and nuclear threats and blackmail of the United States", minister Kim said. In the past, Pyongyang has demanded the withdrawal of the US troops stationed in the South to protect it from its neighbour, and an end to Washington's nuclear umbrella over its security ally. The minister also blasted US National Security Advisor John Bolton's talk of a "Libyan model" for North Korean denuclearisation. It was a "sinister move to impose on our dignified state the destiny of Libya or Iraq", he said. "I cannot suppress indignation at such moves of the US, and harbour doubt about the US sincerity." The North has long said it needs nuclear weapons to protect itself against a US invasion. After giving up his atomic programme, Libyan leader Moamer Khadafi was killed in an uprising backed by NATO bombing. Minister Kim also dismissed offers by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- who has visited Pyongyang twice in recent weeks, coming back the second time with three released US detainees - for US economic aid if the North denuclearises. "We have never had any expectation of US support in carrying out our economic construction and will not at all make such a deal in future," Kim said. In recent weeks, as well as an eye-catching summit with the South's leader last month in the Demilitarized Zone, Kim has twice met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pyongyang has announced it will destroy its nuclear testing site next week. Analysts said Pyongyang was now trying to redefine the terms of the debate. "It's a diplomatic tactic," Kim Hyun-wook, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, told AFP, calling it "brinkmanship to change the US position". "It looks like Kim Jong Un was pushed into accepting US demands for 'denuclearisation-first' but is now trying to change its position after normalising North Korea-China relations and securing economic assistance," he added. "The classic North Korean tightrope diplomacy between the US and China has begun." US officials have repeatedly claimed credit for Washington's "maximum pressure" policy for bringing Pyongyang to the negotiating table. Joshua Pollack of the Middlebury Institute for International Studies said Pyongyang had been irritated by the "triumphalist tone". "The North Koreans aren't happy with what they're seeing and hearing," he said. "There is still a yawning gulf between expectations for diplomacy in Pyongyang and Washington, DC." Earlier KCNA denounced the Max Thunder joint military exercises being held between the US and South Korea as a "rude and wicked provocation", and Seoul said it had received a message cancelling planned high-level talks "indefinitely". The two-week drills started last Friday and involves some 100 aircraft from the two allies, including F-22 stealth fighter jets. Pyongyang's move was "regrettable", said unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun, adding it "contradicts the fundamental spirit and purpose of the Panmunjom Declaration". Hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War stopped with a ceasefire, leaving the two halves of the peninsula divided by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and still technically at war. The North has spent decades developing its atomic arsenal and missiles capable of reaching the US, earning itself multiple rounds of UN Security Council resolutions, while Trump and Kim traded personal insults and threats of war last year. Relations underwent a sudden turnaround as Moon used February's Winter Olympics in the South to broker talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Washington said it will continue to plan the meeting in Singapore on June 12, with State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert telling reporters it had received "no notification" of a position change by North Korea. The exercises were "not provocative" and would continue, she added.

North Korea threatens to cancel US summit

North Korea and South Korea will hold high-level talks on Wednesday to discuss steps needed to uphold the pledge to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, South Korea said.

The meeting will focus on plans to implement a declaration that emerged from an April 27 inter-Korea summit, including promises to formally end the Koran War and pursue "complete denuclearisation", the South's unification ministry, which handles ties with the North, said on Tuesday.

North Korea has said it will dismantle its nuclear bomb test site sometime between May 23 and May 25 in order to uphold its pledge to cease tests, its state media reported on Saturday, a month ahead of a planned North Korea-US&nbspsummit in Singapore.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet on June 12, a scenario that until recently looked impossible given the insults and threats the two leaders exchanged over the past year as tension rose over the North's relentless work on its missile and nuclear programmes.

But North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called in a New Year’s speech for a reduction in military tension, beginning a rapid easing of tension.

North Koreans appeared optimistic about the summit, the chief of the UN&nbspWorld Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, told reporters in Seoul after a trip to the North.

"I think they're hopeful. I think everyone on the ground there was hopeful," Beasley said when asked whether the North Koreans he met had mentioned anything about the summit.

Beasley, who visited the North from May 8 to May 11, said WFP officials had been granted "unprecedented access" to some areas and had held "open, candid and frank discussions" with officials there.

US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the United States would agree to lift sanctions on North Korea if it agreed to completely dismantle its nuclear weapons programme, a move that would create economic prosperity that "will rival" that of South Korea.

Last month, Pompeo became the first known US official to meet North Korean leader Kim, where he helped lay the groundwork for the meeting with Trump.

He returned again to North Korea this month for a second meeting, after which Kim agreed to the release of three American prisoners.

Something big

A South Korean presidential adviser warned that an incremental North Korean approach to denuclearisation at the June 12 summit would not be acceptable to Trump or the South Korean public.

"When Kim Jong Un sees President Trump in Singapore, he should give something big," the security adviser, Moon Chung-in, said at a conference in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, disarmament experts have raised questions about the safety and verification of North Korea's shutdown of its nuclear test site.

North Korea has invited international media to witness the destruction of the site, but not technical inspectors, leaving disarmament experts and nuclear scientists wondering how effective the plan is – and whether it will be safe.

On Tuesday, North Korea invited one news agency and one television broadcaster from South Korea to observe the shutdown, the South's Ministry of Unification said.

South Koreans cannot visit North Korea without an invitation from the North and approval from their government.

Wednesday's meeting will take place at the Peace House in Panmunjom, on the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas, where the two sides signed their joint-declaration last month, the unification ministry said in a statement.

"Through these high-level talks we will negotiate and implement measures to carry out the Panmunjom Declaration and build sustainable development for inter-Korean relations and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula," the ministry said.

South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will lead a team of five at the talks.

North Korea's 29-member delegation will be led by Ri Son-gwon, chairman of its "Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the country". Also in the delegation will be Kim Yun-hyok, vice minister of railways, and Won Kil-U, vice minister of physical culture and sports

The meeting will focus on plans to implement declarations emerged from an April 27 inter-Korea summit, including promises to formally end the Koran War

North Korea and South Korea will hold high-level talks on Wednesday to discuss steps needed to uphold the pledge to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, South Korea said. The meeting will focus on plans to implement a declaration that emerged from an April 27 inter-Korea summit, including promises to formally end the Koran War and pursue "complete denuclearisation", the South's unification ministry, which handles ties with the North, said on Tuesday. North Korea has said it will dismantle its nuclear bomb test site sometime between May 23 and May 25 in order to uphold its pledge to cease tests, its state media reported on Saturday, a month ahead of a planned North Korea-US&nbspsummit in Singapore. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet on June 12, a scenario that until recently looked impossible given the insults and threats the two leaders exchanged over the past year as tension rose over the North's relentless work on its missile and nuclear programmes. But North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called in a New Year’s speech for a reduction in military tension, beginning a rapid easing of tension. North Koreans appeared optimistic about the summit, the chief of the UN&nbspWorld Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, told reporters in Seoul after a trip to the North. "I think they're hopeful. I think everyone on the ground there was hopeful," Beasley said when asked whether the North Koreans he met had mentioned anything about the summit. Beasley, who visited the North from May 8 to May 11, said WFP officials had been granted "unprecedented access" to some areas and had held "open, candid and frank discussions" with officials there. US&nbspSecretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the United States would agree to lift sanctions on North Korea if it agreed to completely dismantle its nuclear weapons programme, a move that would create economic prosperity that "will rival" that of South Korea. Last month, Pompeo became the first known US official to meet North Korean leader Kim, where he helped lay the groundwork for the meeting with Trump. He returned again to North Korea this month for a second meeting, after which Kim agreed to the release of three American prisoners. Something big A South Korean presidential adviser warned that an incremental North Korean approach to denuclearisation at the June 12 summit would not be acceptable to Trump or the South Korean public. "When Kim Jong Un sees President Trump in Singapore, he should give something big," the security adviser, Moon Chung-in, said at a conference in Tokyo. Meanwhile, disarmament experts have raised questions about the safety and verification of North Korea's shutdown of its nuclear test site. North Korea has invited international media to witness the destruction of the site, but not technical inspectors, leaving disarmament experts and nuclear scientists wondering how effective the plan is – and whether it will be safe. On Tuesday, North Korea invited one news agency and one television broadcaster from South Korea to observe the shutdown, the South's Ministry of Unification said. South Koreans cannot visit North Korea without an invitation from the North and approval from their government. Wednesday's meeting will take place at the Peace House in Panmunjom, on the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas, where the two sides signed their joint-declaration last month, the unification ministry said in a statement. "Through these high-level talks we will negotiate and implement measures to carry out the Panmunjom Declaration and build sustainable development for inter-Korean relations and permanent peace on the Korean peninsula," the ministry said. South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will lead a team of five at the talks. North Korea's 29-member delegation will be led by Ri Son-gwon, chairman of its "Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the country". Also in the delegation will be Kim Yun-hyok, vice minister of railways, and Won Kil-U, vice minister of physical culture and sports

Two Koreas to hold talks as North prepares to shut test site

The head of the UN's World Food Programme said today it appeared North Korea was "turning a new page in history", following a four-day visit to the country.

David Beasley said he had enjoyed unprecedented access to the secretive state, spending two days in the capital Pyongyang and two in the countryside, accompanied by government minders.

He said there was undoubtedly a hunger problem in North Korea but it was not on the scale of the 1990s famine.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/very-smart-and-gracious-gesture-trump-thanks-north-korea-for-promising-to-destroy-nuclear-test-site-136434">Trump thanks North Korea for promising to destroy nuclear test site</a>

North Korea's economy has been devastated by its own mismanagement and crippling international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. However, its relations with the rest of the world are rapidly changing, with leader Kim Jong Un on a charm offensive.

Beasley told BBC radio that North Korea's leaders had a "sense of optimism".

Dialogue brokered by Seoul has seen US-North Korea relations go from trading personal insults and threats of war last year to a summit between Kim and President Donald Trump due in Singapore on June 12.

"There is a sense of turning a new page in history," said Bealsey, 61, the former governor of South Carolina.

He described the farming he witnessed outside the capital, in a country where only around a fifth of the land is arable.

"One of the most powerful things that I saw was out in the countryside -- it's spring, they're planting -- there's not mechanisation. You've got oxen pulling ploughs, men and women in the fields," said Beasley.

"It's very structured, very organised, every foot and inch of dirt is being toiled with rakes and hoes and shovels, and they're literally planting crops up to the edge of the road, down embankments, using every available space because it is a land that's mostly mountainous." North Korea has periodically been hit by famine, and hundreds of thousands of people died -- estimates range into the millions -- in the mid-1990s.

Beasley said: "I didn't see starvation like you had in the famine back in the 1990s, that's the good news. But is there a hunger issue, is there under-nutrition? There's no question about it." A United Nations-led report in March said chronic food shortages and malnutrition were widespread.

Around 41 percent -- 10.5 million people -- were undernourished, it said Around 18 million North Koreans, or 70 percent of the population including 1.3 million children aged under five, depend on the government-run Public Distribution System for rations of cereal and potatoes.

But most people do not consume a sufficiently diverse diet for healthy development, the report said. (AFP)&nbsp

The comment came from the chief of the UN's World Food Programme after a four-day visit to the country

The head of the UN's World Food Programme said today it appeared North Korea was "turning a new page in history", following a four-day visit to the country. David Beasley said he had enjoyed unprecedented access to the secretive state, spending two days in the capital Pyongyang and two in the countryside, accompanied by government minders. He said there was undoubtedly a hunger problem in North Korea but it was not on the scale of the 1990s famine. Also read: Trump thanks North Korea for promising to destroy nuclear test site North Korea's economy has been devastated by its own mismanagement and crippling international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. However, its relations with the rest of the world are rapidly changing, with leader Kim Jong Un on a charm offensive. Beasley told BBC radio that North Korea's leaders had a "sense of optimism". Dialogue brokered by Seoul has seen US-North Korea relations go from trading personal insults and threats of war last year to a summit between Kim and President Donald Trump due in Singapore on June 12. "There is a sense of turning a new page in history," said Bealsey, 61, the former governor of South Carolina. He described the farming he witnessed outside the capital, in a country where only around a fifth of the land is arable. "One of the most powerful things that I saw was out in the countryside -- it's spring, they're planting -- there's not mechanisation. You've got oxen pulling ploughs, men and women in the fields," said Beasley. "It's very structured, very organised, every foot and inch of dirt is being toiled with rakes and hoes and shovels, and they're literally planting crops up to the edge of the road, down embankments, using every available space because it is a land that's mostly mountainous." North Korea has periodically been hit by famine, and hundreds of thousands of people died -- estimates range into the millions -- in the mid-1990s. Beasley said: "I didn't see starvation like you had in the famine back in the 1990s, that's the good news. But is there a hunger issue, is there under-nutrition? There's no question about it." A United Nations-led report in March said chronic food shortages and malnutrition were widespread. Around 41 percent -- 10.5 million people -- were undernourished, it said Around 18 million North Koreans, or 70 percent of the population including 1.3 million children aged under five, depend on the government-run Public Distribution System for rations of cereal and potatoes. But most people do not consume a sufficiently diverse diet for healthy development, the report said. (AFP)

North Korea 'turning a new page'

It has one foot in the East and one in the West, is ultra-modern, secure and sometimes mocked as being a little dull -- Singapore was the safe pick for a historic first meeting between the unpredictable leaders of the US and North Korea.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed the summit -- a first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader -- would take place in Singapore on June 12.

"We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!" he tweeted.

It followed a second visit to Pyongyang by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday to make arrangements for the summit.&nbsp

The Southeast Asian financial hub was likely chosen due to its neutrality, security advantages and track record of hosting international summits, observers say.&nbsp

The ultramodern city-state has robust security infrastructure and is widely considered one of the safest cities in Asia.

It has tight restrictions over media and public gatherings, which will allow for a controlled environment likely to be preferred by the North Koreans.

Singapore is also in the rare position of having friendly diplomatic ties with both Washington and Pyongyang.

It considers the US a close partner, while North Korea maintains a fully functioning embassy in the city-state.

Singapore and the North have a long history of cooperation -- the first law firm and fast food restaurant in Pyongyang were both set up by Singaporeans -- even if relations hit a snag last year when Singapore enforced new UN sanctions on trade.&nbsp

Singapore will also be an acceptable choice to China, North Korea's only major ally, which wields a strong influence despite its physical absence from next month's proceedings.

"As a neutral, and objective country with much-admired consistent foreign policy principles and a small state with no desire or capacity to harm other states and their interests, Singapore fits that bill well," said Lim Tai Wei, adjunct research fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asia Institute.&nbsp

&nbsp'No baggage'&nbsp

By apparently agreeing to meet Trump 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) away from Pyongyang, Kim has to travel a significant distance out of his comfort zone, said Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at the S&nbspRajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).&nbsp

Since Kim took over as leader, he has rarely left his isolated nation and has only officially ventured away from home this year, with two visits to China, most recently travelling to the northeastern port city of Dalian where he met Xi.

He also stepped across the border into South Korea during a historic meeting with President Moon Jae-in in April, making him the first Northern leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War ceasefire in 1953. &nbsp

Remarkable images of the two leaders greeting each other warmly over the Military Demarcation Line that splits their countries, rich with symbolism and high political theatre, were broadcast around the world.

Trump had previously suggested that the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas could be a venue for his meeting with Kim, before ruling it out on Wednesday.

Nearby Mongolia was also ruled out as a possible neutral third-country venue, reportedly for security reasons.

But for Trump and Kim, Singapore is a convenient venue precisely because it "doesn't have the historical or political baggage," said Sarah Teo, an associate research fellow at RSIS's regional security architecture programme.

Singapore also has a track record for hosting international summits.&nbsp

In 2015, the city-state played host to a historic meeting between China's president Xi Jinping and then Taiwanese president Ma Ying Jeou.&nbsp

It hosts the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a defence forum regularly attended by heads of state, defence ministers and high level military officials.&nbsp

Now the venue and date have been chosen, it only remains to be seen if Singapore will play host to a meeting that truly builds on hopes for the complete denuclearisation of the peninsula and a formal peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War.

 
&nbsp

It has one foot in the East and one in the West, is ultra-modern, secure and sometimes mocked as being a little dull -- Singapore was the safe pick for a historic first meeting between the unpredictable leaders of the US and North Korea

It has one foot in the East and one in the West, is ultra-modern, secure and sometimes mocked as being a little dull -- Singapore was the safe pick for a historic first meeting between the unpredictable leaders of the US and North Korea. US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed the summit -- a first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader -- would take place in Singapore on June 12. "We will both try to make it a very special moment for World Peace!" he tweeted. It followed a second visit to Pyongyang by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday to make arrangements for the summit. The Southeast Asian financial hub was likely chosen due to its neutrality, security advantages and track record of hosting international summits, observers say. The ultramodern city-state has robust security infrastructure and is widely considered one of the safest cities in Asia. It has tight restrictions over media and public gatherings, which will allow for a controlled environment likely to be preferred by the North Koreans. Singapore is also in the rare position of having friendly diplomatic ties with both Washington and Pyongyang. It considers the US a close partner, while North Korea maintains a fully functioning embassy in the city-state. Singapore and the North have a long history of cooperation -- the first law firm and fast food restaurant in Pyongyang were both set up by Singaporeans -- even if relations hit a snag last year when Singapore enforced new UN sanctions on trade. Singapore will also be an acceptable choice to China, North Korea's only major ally, which wields a strong influence despite its physical absence from next month's proceedings. "As a neutral, and objective country with much-admired consistent foreign policy principles and a small state with no desire or capacity to harm other states and their interests, Singapore fits that bill well," said Lim Tai Wei, adjunct research fellow at the National University of Singapore's East Asia Institute. 'No baggage' By apparently agreeing to meet Trump 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) away from Pyongyang, Kim has to travel a significant distance out of his comfort zone, said Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at the S&nbspRajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). Since Kim took over as leader, he has rarely left his isolated nation and has only officially ventured away from home this year, with two visits to China, most recently travelling to the northeastern port city of Dalian where he met Xi. He also stepped across the border into South Korea during a historic meeting with President Moon Jae-in in April, making him the first Northern leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War ceasefire in 1953. Remarkable images of the two leaders greeting each other warmly over the Military Demarcation Line that splits their countries, rich with symbolism and high political theatre, were broadcast around the world. Trump had previously suggested that the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas could be a venue for his meeting with Kim, before ruling it out on Wednesday. Nearby Mongolia was also ruled out as a possible neutral third-country venue, reportedly for security reasons. But for Trump and Kim, Singapore is a convenient venue precisely because it "doesn't have the historical or political baggage," said Sarah Teo, an associate research fellow at RSIS's regional security architecture programme. Singapore also has a track record for hosting international summits. In 2015, the city-state played host to a historic meeting between China's president Xi Jinping and then Taiwanese president Ma Ying Jeou. It hosts the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a defence forum regularly attended by heads of state, defence ministers and high level military officials. Now the venue and date have been chosen, it only remains to be seen if Singapore will play host to a meeting that truly builds on hopes for the complete denuclearisation of the peninsula and a formal peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War.

Why Singapore for the Trump-Kim summit?

North Korea leader's surprise second meeting with China President Xi Jinping underscores how China will play a part in the denuclearisation front and till what extent till the negotiations go.&nbsp

China's Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that concerned parties should seize the opportunity to promote denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Xinhua said Li made the remarks during a trilateral meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

As per reports, the negotiations could result in a "permanent, solid peace" on the Korean peninsula.

The negotiations could result in a 'permanent, solid peace' on the Korean peninsula

North Korea leader's surprise second meeting with China President Xi Jinping underscores how China will play a part in the denuclearisation front and till what extent till the negotiations go. China's Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that concerned parties should seize the opportunity to promote denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, the official Xinhua news agency said. Xinhua said Li made the remarks during a trilateral meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. As per reports, the negotiations could result in a "permanent, solid peace" on the Korean peninsula.

China Premier says parties should seize chance to denuclearise Korean Peninsula

Japan and North Korea should begin talks to normalise relations between the two countries and contribute to peace and stability in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday.

"In particular, I think dialogue between Japan and North Korea should be resumed," Moon said in the interview with the Yomiuri newspaper.

"If Japan-North Korea relations are normalised, that would greatly contribute to peace and security in Northeast Asia beyond the Korean peninsula," he said in written answers to questions submitted by the newspaper.

At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation. Kim said during that meeting he was "ready to have a dialogue with Japan anytime", Moon told the newspaper.

There was no immediate comment from the Japanese government, which has called Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programmes the toughest security threat facing Japan since World War Two.

Moon's interview was conducted ahead of a summit on Wednesday between Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Tokyo.

North Korea was expected to be high on the agenda but a Chinese diplomat said last week the talks were about regional cooperation and not focused on the Korean peninsula

Nevertheless, months of frosty relations between Beijing and Pyongyang appear to have thawed since Kim's secretive visit to Beijing in March, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Analysts said Kim's meeting with Xi strengthened North Korea's negotiating position by aligning the two nations ahead of Kim's summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump in the coming weeks.

A high-ranking North Korean official visited the Chinese city of Dalian this week, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said on Tuesday, citing multiple anonymous sources.

The North Korean official flew in a private plane and arrived at Dalian airport on Monday amid heavy security, Yonhap said. It did not identify the official.

In the interview, Moon said Kim's desire for "complete denuclearisation" laid the groundwork for the future summit between the United States and North Korea, although it remained to be seen if concrete steps were agreed at the talks.

Trump has said he will maintain sanctions and pressure on the North and "not repeat the mistakes of past administrations", and has said his tough stance had led to the breakthrough.

Moon said Kim was "a very open and practical person" and both leaders had a mutual goal for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

"From now on, based on our deep mutual trust, we'll make bold steps toward peace and prosperity, and unification," Moon said.

At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation

Japan and North Korea should begin talks to normalise relations between the two countries and contribute to peace and stability in the region, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told a Japanese newspaper on Tuesday. "In particular, I think dialogue between Japan and North Korea should be resumed," Moon said in the interview with the Yomiuri newspaper. "If Japan-North Korea relations are normalised, that would greatly contribute to peace and security in Northeast Asia beyond the Korean peninsula," he said in written answers to questions submitted by the newspaper. At Moon's summit last month with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, both sides agreed to work towards denuclearisation. Kim said during that meeting he was "ready to have a dialogue with Japan anytime", Moon told the newspaper. There was no immediate comment from the Japanese government, which has called Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programmes the toughest security threat facing Japan since World War Two. Moon's interview was conducted ahead of a summit on Wednesday between Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Tokyo. North Korea was expected to be high on the agenda but a Chinese diplomat said last week the talks were about regional cooperation and not focused on the Korean peninsula Nevertheless, months of frosty relations between Beijing and Pyongyang appear to have thawed since Kim's secretive visit to Beijing in March, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping. Analysts said Kim's meeting with Xi strengthened North Korea's negotiating position by aligning the two nations ahead of Kim's summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump in the coming weeks. A high-ranking North Korean official visited the Chinese city of Dalian this week, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said on Tuesday, citing multiple anonymous sources. The North Korean official flew in a private plane and arrived at Dalian airport on Monday amid heavy security, Yonhap said. It did not identify the official. In the interview, Moon said Kim's desire for "complete denuclearisation" laid the groundwork for the future summit between the United States and North Korea, although it remained to be seen if concrete steps were agreed at the talks. Trump has said he will maintain sanctions and pressure on the North and "not repeat the mistakes of past administrations", and has said his tough stance had led to the breakthrough. Moon said Kim was "a very open and practical person" and both leaders had a mutual goal for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. "From now on, based on our deep mutual trust, we'll make bold steps toward peace and prosperity, and unification," Moon said.

Japan and North Korea should talk, South Korea's Moon says

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un met in northeast China on Tuesday in an unannounced visit by the North Korean leader ahead of an expected summit with US President Donald Trump.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and Kim taking a seaside stroll in the northeastern city of Dalian and holding talks, while the official Xinhua news agency said the two leaders met on Monday and Tuesday.

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BREAKING: Chinese President <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/XiJinping?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#XiJinping</a>, DPRK top leader <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KimJongUn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KimJongUn</a> holds talks in NE China's Dalian on May 7-8 <a href="https://t.co/zzPoFLItPb">pic.twitter.com/zzPoFLItPb</a>
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It was Kim's second visit to China since March, highlighting efforts by the Cold War-era allies to mend ties that have chilled as Beijing has supported UN sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear activities.

Beijing is keen to avoid being left out in the cold in the wake of Kim's historic summit last month with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his planned meeting with Trump in June.

"After the first meeting between me and Comrade Chairman (Kim), both China-DPRK relations and the Korean peninsula situation have made positive progress. I feel happy about it," Xi said, according to Xinhua.

For his part, Kim was quoted as saying: "These are the positive outcomes of the historic meeting between me and Comrade General Secretary (Xi)."

Japanese media had earlier shown images of an airplane normally used by North Korean VIPs flying out of Dalian, fuelling speculation that Kim had been in town.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and Kim taking a seaside stroll in the northeastern city of Dalian and holding talks.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un met in northeast China on Tuesday in an unannounced visit by the North Korean leader ahead of an expected summit with US President Donald Trump. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi and Kim taking a seaside stroll in the northeastern city of Dalian and holding talks, while the official Xinhua news agency said the two leaders met on Monday and Tuesday. BREAKING: Chinese President #XiJinping, DPRK top leader #KimJongUn holds talks in NE China's Dalian on May 7-8 pic.twitter.com/zzPoFLItPb — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 8, 2018 × It was Kim's second visit to China since March, highlighting efforts by the Cold War-era allies to mend ties that have chilled as Beijing has supported UN sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear activities. Beijing is keen to avoid being left out in the cold in the wake of Kim's historic summit last month with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his planned meeting with Trump in June. "After the first meeting between me and Comrade Chairman (Kim), both China-DPRK relations and the Korean peninsula situation have made positive progress. I feel happy about it," Xi said, according to Xinhua. For his part, Kim was quoted as saying: "These are the positive outcomes of the historic meeting between me and Comrade General Secretary (Xi)." Japanese media had earlier shown images of an airplane normally used by North Korean VIPs flying out of Dalian, fuelling speculation that Kim had been in town.

Before summit with Trump, North Korea's Kim Jong-Un meets Xi Jinping in China

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-elections-sonia-hits-campaign-trail-after-2-years-says-wherever-modi-goes-he-distorts-historical-facts-135515">Karnataka elections: Sonia hits campaign trail after 2 years. Says wherever Modi goes, he distorts facts</a>

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi hit the campaign trail Tuesday after two years, and immediately went on the attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-and-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-met-in-china-reports-135511">Xi Jinping and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un meet in China</a>

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un met in northeast China on Tuesday in an unannounced visit by the North Korean leader ahead of an expected summit with US President Donald Trump.

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The couple got married in Mumbai at Rockdale as the entire Bollywood fraternity turned up to wish the young couple in their new phase of lives.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamist-group-youth-leader-accused-of-shooting-pakistani-minister-police-135524">Islamist group youth leader accused of shooting Pakistani minister: Police</a>

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Iran's President Hassan Rouhani staked his legacy on efforts to end decades of tension with the West. With the landmark nuclear deal unravelling, what hope is there for his political future?

Karnataka elections: Sonia hits campaign trail after 2 years. Says wherever Modi goes, he distorts facts Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi hit the campaign trail Tuesday after two years, and immediately went on the attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Xi Jinping and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un meet in China Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-Un met in northeast China on Tuesday in an unannounced visit by the North Korean leader ahead of an expected summit with US President Donald Trump. Here is the first picture of the newlyweds: Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja The couple got married in Mumbai at Rockdale as the entire Bollywood fraternity turned up to wish the young couple in their new phase of lives. Islamist group youth leader accused of shooting Pakistani minister: Police The gunman accused of shooting and wounding Pakistan's interior minister&nbspis a youth leader of a hardline religious group that sees its mission as enforcing death for blasphemers and ridding government of secular influence, police said in a report. Iran's Rouhani 'losing everything' due to Trump Iran's President Hassan Rouhani staked his legacy on efforts to end decades of tension with the West. With the landmark nuclear deal unravelling, what hope is there for his political future?

News brief: Big stories of the day

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim-Jong Un are most probably going to meet in Singapore for the historic summit in June, reports said on Monday.&nbsp;

The date and location have been settled by the two leaders, Trump had said during the weekend but refrained from giving out any other detail.&nbsp;

Earlier, a senior US official said Singapore was still high on the list of potential sites for the summit after Trump had suggested the Peace House on DMZ where Kim met South Korean President Moon Jae In last week.&nbsp;

"We're looking at various countries, including Singapore. And we are also talking about the possibility of the DMZ Peace House/Freedom House," Trump said.

A similar report on the weekend from South Korea's Yonhap news agency also said Singapore was firming as the favoured location for the summit.

Preparations for the much-anticipated talks between the two leaders are gaining more momentum since the Korea summit last month which saw Pyongyang and Seoul promise to pursue the complete denuclearisation of the peninsula and a formal peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War.

North Korea has offered to close its nuclear test site this month -- and invited US experts to verify the move.

Trump, who has declined to comment on whether he has spoken directly to the North Korean leader, called Kim "very open and very straightforward so far".

"Oh yeah, I think the summit's going to happen," he said. They very much want it. We certainly would like to see it... I will say this: If it's not a success... I will respectfully leave. It's very simple."

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&nbsp;

The date and location have been settled by the two leaders, Trump had said during the weekend but refrained from giving out any other detail

US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim-Jong Un are most probably going to meet in Singapore for the historic summit in June, reports said on Monday. The date and location have been settled by the two leaders, Trump had said during the weekend but refrained from giving out any other detail. Earlier, a senior US official said Singapore was still high on the list of potential sites for the summit after Trump had suggested the Peace House on DMZ where Kim met South Korean President Moon Jae In last week. "We're looking at various countries, including Singapore. And we are also talking about the possibility of the DMZ Peace House/Freedom House," Trump said. A similar report on the weekend from South Korea's Yonhap news agency also said Singapore was firming as the favoured location for the summit. Preparations for the much-anticipated talks between the two leaders are gaining more momentum since the Korea summit last month which saw Pyongyang and Seoul promise to pursue the complete denuclearisation of the peninsula and a formal peace treaty to end the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea has offered to close its nuclear test site this month -- and invited US experts to verify the move. Trump, who has declined to comment on whether he has spoken directly to the North Korean leader, called Kim "very open and very straightforward so far". "Oh yeah, I think the summit's going to happen," he said. They very much want it. We certainly would like to see it... I will say this: If it's not a success... I will respectfully leave. It's very simple." ×

Watch: Singapore to be a possible location for historic Trump-Kim meeting

According to North Korean state media, the country has slammed the United States for claiming that Washington's sanctions on Pyongyang and political pressure on the Kim Jong-Un regime led North Korea to the negotiating table.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson noted that such claims are dangerous and may pose threat to the budding peace and reconciliation process in the Korean peninsula.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held their historic summit in Panmunjom last week.

In a joint declaration after the talks, the two leaders officially inaugurated a document formally called the 'Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula'.

The two Koreas agreed to sign a peace treaty formally later this year, ending the six-decades-old war between the two countries.

The South Korean President is also slated to visit Pyongyang later this year, according to a statement released by his presidential office.

Kim Jong-Un on April 21 announced to suspend its nuclear tests and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

Kim and President Donald Trump are also expected to meet later this month or in early June.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The two Koreas agreed to sign a peace treaty formally later this year, ending the six-decades-old war between the two countries

According to North Korean state media, the country has slammed the United States for claiming that Washington's sanctions on Pyongyang and political pressure on the Kim Jong-Un regime led North Korea to the negotiating table. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson noted that such claims are dangerous and may pose threat to the budding peace and reconciliation process in the Korean peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held their historic summit in Panmunjom last week. In a joint declaration after the talks, the two leaders officially inaugurated a document formally called the 'Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula'. The two Koreas agreed to sign a peace treaty formally later this year, ending the six-decades-old war between the two countries. The South Korean President is also slated to visit Pyongyang later this year, according to a statement released by his presidential office. Kim Jong-Un on April 21 announced to suspend its nuclear tests and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. Kim and President Donald Trump are also expected to meet later this month or in early June. (With inputs from agencies)

Washington's claims threaten peace process in Korean peninsula: North Korea

Weeks after historic Inter-Korea summit, North Korea has joined the time zone of South Korea bu resetting its clock by 30 minutes on Friday, reported France based news agency AFP citing state media.

The resetting&nbspof time is the first practical step that has been taken after the peace summit between North Korea and South Korea for a reconciliation and unity of both countries.

The different time zone was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea president Moon Jae-in pledged to take various steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korea war after the&nbsp27 April's&nbspInter-Korea Summit.

North Korea also surprised the world after Kim Jong-un promised to shut down its nuclear test site. It also assured that that denuclearisation process would take place with full transparency in presence of journalists and respective authorities.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un will also meet United States president Donald Trump.&nbsp

Trump on Friday told reporters that the date and location were set for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un, which would be announced soon.

Another historic summit between the US and North Korea is expected to take place this month.&nbsp 
&nbsp

The resetting of time is the first practical step that has been taken after the peace summit between North Korea and South Korea for a reconciliation and unity of both countries

Weeks after historic Inter-Korea summit, North Korea has joined the time zone of South Korea bu resetting its clock by 30 minutes on Friday, reported France based news agency AFP citing state media. The resetting&nbspof time is the first practical step that has been taken after the peace summit between North Korea and South Korea for a reconciliation and unity of both countries. The different time zone was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two. North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea president Moon Jae-in pledged to take various steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korea war after the&nbsp27 April's&nbspInter-Korea Summit. North Korea also surprised the world after Kim Jong-un promised to shut down its nuclear test site. It also assured that that denuclearisation process would take place with full transparency in presence of journalists and respective authorities. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un will also meet United States president Donald Trump. Trump on Friday told reporters that the date and location were set for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un, which would be announced soon. Another historic summit between the US and North Korea is expected to take place this month.

As promised, North Korea joins South Korea time zone

United States President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters that the date and location were set for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un, which would be announced soon.

The White House has said the historic summit with the Asian leader could take place this month, as long as North Korea made certain concessions on its nuclear program and other areas of contention with the United States.

On Friday, while answering reporters' questions before boarding Marine One at the White House, Trump said: "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (US) hostages. I think you're going to see very good things."

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit.

The White House has said the historic summit with the Asian leader could take place this month, as long as North Korea made certain concessions on its nuclear program and other areas of contention with the United States.

United States President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters that the date and location were set for a meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un, which would be announced soon. The White House has said the historic summit with the Asian leader could take place this month, as long as North Korea made certain concessions on its nuclear program and other areas of contention with the United States. On Friday, while answering reporters' questions before boarding Marine One at the White House, Trump said: "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the (US) hostages. I think you're going to see very good things." The US government is looking into reports that three Americans arrested in recent years in North Korea had recently been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, as expectations grow that they will be released before the summit.

US President Donald Trump says date, place set for North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un meeting

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a US official said on Wednesday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no immediate confirmation of any change in the detainees' status. Trump administration officials have pressed for their release as a show of goodwill by North Korea before the unprecedented US-North Korea summit expected in late May or early June.

"As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump said in a Twitter post late on Wednesday.

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As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!
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Earlier on Wednesday, South Korean media reports quoted a South Korean activist as saying North Korea had relocated the three Americans from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Choi Soung-yong, the activist, told Reuters that Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul were moved in early April following instructions from superior authorities, citing residents in Pyongyang.

The United States and North Korea "seem to have decided on a date to release these people," said Choi. "North Korea probably wants to straighten out their affairs rehabilitate them."

The activist added the three were being kept in separate rooms in the same hotel and said he did not know what had happened to them since being relocated.

"We cannot confirm the validity of these reports," a US&nbsp;State Department spokeswoman said.

"The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible," she said.

Randall Brandt, a spokesman for Tony Kim’s family, said in an email: "While we are encouraged by overall momentum, the family has no indication of a release and has had no contact with Tony since Ambassador Yun last June."

He was referring to Joseph Yun, the State Department's former North Korea negotiator, who saw the detainees on a visit to Pyongyang last year.

Sol Kim, the son of detainee Tony Kim, said on social media that he is optimistic but has no information.

"We are hopeful but we have no indication that they have been released. Thank you for your continued prayers and efforts to help bring them home," he said.

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a US official said on Wednesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no immediate confirmation of any change in the detainees' status. Trump administration officials have pressed for their release as a show of goodwill by North Korea before the unprecedented US-North Korea summit expected in late May or early June. "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump said in a Twitter post late on Wednesday. As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 × Earlier on Wednesday, South Korean media reports quoted a South Korean activist as saying North Korea had relocated the three Americans from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Choi Soung-yong, the activist, told Reuters that Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul were moved in early April following instructions from superior authorities, citing residents in Pyongyang. The United States and North Korea "seem to have decided on a date to release these people," said Choi. "North Korea probably wants to straighten out their affairs rehabilitate them." The activist added the three were being kept in separate rooms in the same hotel and said he did not know what had happened to them since being relocated. "We cannot confirm the validity of these reports," a US State Department spokeswoman said. "The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible," she said. Randall Brandt, a spokesman for Tony Kim’s family, said in an email: "While we are encouraged by overall momentum, the family has no indication of a release and has had no contact with Tony since Ambassador Yun last June." He was referring to Joseph Yun, the State Department's former North Korea negotiator, who saw the detainees on a visit to Pyongyang last year. Sol Kim, the son of detainee Tony Kim, said on social media that he is optimistic but has no information. "We are hopeful but we have no indication that they have been released. Thank you for your continued prayers and efforts to help bring them home," he said.

US checks reports three American detainees relocated in North Korea

Every event of Korean leaders' summit on April 27, 2018, was covered extensively by the media where they highlighted their pledge to end six decades of hostility. Airing their rhetoric about commitment to peace and "complete" denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and eventually achieve unification, looks too good, but too quick, to be true.

In a scripted ceremony, Kim Jong-un did become the first North Korean leader to walk across the demarcation line to South Korea since the Korean War of 1953. The war was halted by an armistice signed in 1953, but did not formally end through any permanent peace agreement. The declaration by both to work together for a "nuclear-free Korea", disarmament, as well as officially ending the war at Panmunjom in 2018 is a historical event, which may outwardly amuse population both sides, but it needs careful decoding.

How and why the event happened as per expected script?

South Korea was under maximum pressure due to war clouds over its territory because of hard line taken by North Korea and the US. Kim's adventurism with no noticeable control by China and Russia, a war of words and incremental sanctions by US and UN were making things worse in the Korean Peninsula. Mountain collapsing at the nuclear site and fear of radiation continue to add to the risk to nearby areas. Under immense pressure, South Korea was able to set the stage for Kim-Trump meet, which is possible only if this summit went off well on scripted lines. Under domestic pressure due to hard hitting sanctions, and nuclear test related dangers, Kim was also mentally prepared to follow the peace narrative.

Will this inter-Korean peace initiative work?

The United States, China and Russia welcomed the agreement as their first response. The criticism indicates that the document promises mutual disarmament "in a phased manner" to build trust, lacks any roadmap/timelines for implementation. It does not meet US expectation of "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons. Any real promise regarding dismantling of missiles and nuclear weapons was missing, and Kim's image of being nuclear powered dictator has remained intact. Irrespective of skeptics, this summit has set the tone for the Trump-Kim Summit, although some more diplomatic efforts will have to follow.

Beyond the optics

There were some difficulties, which made some ideas of the summit impractical. Here are some of them:

<ul>
	<li>While everyone will like to see the peace and prosperity of Koreans but neither China nor US will be keen for a unified Korea. This will also invite internal opposition in South Korea. China will not like a democratic unified Korea, balancing between US and China, whereas US will not like its foothold in Korea going away so easily.</li>
	<li>When North Korea threatened the US and Japan, the issue expanded beyond bilateral limits of North and South Korea, hence cannot be settled by them bilaterally. Any permanent solution has to be acceptable to US, China, Japan and Russia.</li>
	<li>When Armistice was signed in 1953, US and China representatives were present. The same is a must for lasting peace.</li>
	<li>Expecting Kim to give away the only leverage he has in terms of posing nuclear and missile threat to US, something which has forced President Trump to meet him, sounds unrealistic.</li>
</ul>

This event is a good beginning which has a face saving option for all parties unless a hard line is adopted by someone. The US and Japan are unlikely to be moved by optics and will be keen in eradication of threat to them, hence may not remove or soften sanctions, which Kim may be eyeing for by such niceties with South

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

In a scripted ceremony, Kim Jong-un did become the first North Korean leader to walk across the DMZ to South Korea.

Every event of Korean leaders' summit on April 27, 2018, was covered extensively by the media where they highlighted their pledge to end six decades of hostility. Airing their rhetoric about commitment to peace and "complete" denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and eventually achieve unification, looks too good, but too quick, to be true. In a scripted ceremony, Kim Jong-un did become the first North Korean leader to walk across the demarcation line to South Korea since the Korean War of 1953. The war was halted by an armistice signed in 1953, but did not formally end through any permanent peace agreement. The declaration by both to work together for a "nuclear-free Korea", disarmament, as well as officially ending the war at Panmunjom in 2018 is a historical event, which may outwardly amuse population both sides, but it needs careful decoding. How and why the event happened as per expected script? South Korea was under maximum pressure due to war clouds over its territory because of hard line taken by North Korea and the US. Kim's adventurism with no noticeable control by China and Russia, a war of words and incremental sanctions by US and UN were making things worse in the Korean Peninsula. Mountain collapsing at the nuclear site and fear of radiation continue to add to the risk to nearby areas. Under immense pressure, South Korea was able to set the stage for Kim-Trump meet, which is possible only if this summit went off well on scripted lines. Under domestic pressure due to hard hitting sanctions, and nuclear test related dangers, Kim was also mentally prepared to follow the peace narrative. Will this inter-Korean peace initiative work? The United States, China and Russia welcomed the agreement as their first response. The criticism indicates that the document promises mutual disarmament "in a phased manner" to build trust, lacks any roadmap/timelines for implementation. It does not meet US expectation of "complete, verifiable and irreversible" dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons. Any real promise regarding dismantling of missiles and nuclear weapons was missing, and Kim's image of being nuclear powered dictator has remained intact. Irrespective of skeptics, this summit has set the tone for the Trump-Kim Summit, although some more diplomatic efforts will have to follow. Beyond the optics There were some difficulties, which made some ideas of the summit impractical. Here are some of them: While everyone will like to see the peace and prosperity of Koreans but neither China nor US will be keen for a unified Korea. This will also invite internal opposition in South Korea. China will not like a democratic unified Korea, balancing between US and China, whereas US will not like its foothold in Korea going away so easily. When North Korea threatened the US and Japan, the issue expanded beyond bilateral limits of North and South Korea, hence cannot be settled by them bilaterally. Any permanent solution has to be acceptable to US, China, Japan and Russia. When Armistice was signed in 1953, US and China representatives were present. The same is a must for lasting peace. Expecting Kim to give away the only leverage he has in terms of posing nuclear and missile threat to US, something which has forced President Trump to meet him, sounds unrealistic. This event is a good beginning which has a face saving option for all parties unless a hard line is adopted by someone. The US and Japan are unlikely to be moved by optics and will be keen in eradication of threat to them, hence may not remove or soften sanctions, which Kim may be eyeing for by such niceties with South (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Decoding the Kim and Moon summit for a nuclear free Korea

North Korea will shift its time zone 30 minutes earlier to align with South Korea starting May 5 "as a first practical step for national reconciliation and unity," the North's state media said Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was "a painful wrench" to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue during the historic meeting Friday with President Moon Jae-in, KCNA said.

Meanwhile, China will send the government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, to visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The time change report confirmed news from South Korean officials on Sunday that Kim pledged to scrap the northern time zone, which was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two.

South Korea and Japan are in the same time zone, nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

"It is not an abstract meaning that the north and the south become one but it is just a process in which the north and the south turn their different and separated things into the same and single ones," Kim said, according to the dispatch.

At their summit Friday, Kim and Moon declared they would take steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended only with a truce, and work towards the "denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula. The declaration didn't offer any specifics on what that meant or how it would progress.

Much now hinges on Kim's upcoming summit with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who said the meeting could happen over the next three to four weeks. No location has been announced.

Kim also told Moon he would soon invite experts and journalists from the United States and South Korea when the country dismantles its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, the Blue House said on Sunday.

North Korea has conducted all six of its nuclear tests at the site, a series of tunnels dug into the mountains in the northeastern part of the country. Some experts and researchers have speculated that the most recent - and by far largest - blast in September had rendered the entire site unusable.

But Kim said there were two additional, larger tunnels that remain "in very good condition" beyond the existing one, which experts believe may have collapsed.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday he told Kim during their secret meeting at the beginning of April that North Korea would have to agree to take "irreversible" steps toward shutting its nuclear weapons program in any deal with the United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was 'a painful wrench' to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue

North Korea will shift its time zone 30 minutes earlier to align with South Korea starting May 5 "as a first practical step for national reconciliation and unity," the North's state media said Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was "a painful wrench" to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue during the historic meeting Friday with President Moon Jae-in, KCNA said. Meanwhile, China will send the government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, to visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the foreign ministry said on Monday. The time change report confirmed news from South Korean officials on Sunday that Kim pledged to scrap the northern time zone, which was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two. South Korea and Japan are in the same time zone, nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. "It is not an abstract meaning that the north and the south become one but it is just a process in which the north and the south turn their different and separated things into the same and single ones," Kim said, according to the dispatch. At their summit Friday, Kim and Moon declared they would take steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended only with a truce, and work towards the "denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula. The declaration didn't offer any specifics on what that meant or how it would progress. Much now hinges on Kim's upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, who said the meeting could happen over the next three to four weeks. No location has been announced. Kim also told Moon he would soon invite experts and journalists from the United States and South Korea when the country dismantles its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, the Blue House said on Sunday. North Korea has conducted all six of its nuclear tests at the site, a series of tunnels dug into the mountains in the northeastern part of the country. Some experts and researchers have speculated that the most recent - and by far largest - blast in September had rendered the entire site unusable. But Kim said there were two additional, larger tunnels that remain "in very good condition" beyond the existing one, which experts believe may have collapsed. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday he told Kim during their secret meeting at the beginning of April that North Korea would have to agree to take "irreversible" steps toward shutting its nuclear weapons program in any deal with the United States.

North Korea to align with South's time zone as first practical step toward reconciliation

US&nbspPresident Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday suggested his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un take place at the Peace House on the border between North and South Korea, as preparations for the summit advance.

"Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!"&nbspTrump&nbspsaid on Twitter.

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Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/990928644100034561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump&nbspis expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen.

The Peace House is in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, on the border between the two countries. It is the same site as the one that hosted Kim's historic meeting last week with the South Korean president.

The choices of a venue for the&nbspTrump&nbspsummit also include neutral third countries like Singapore, but U.S. officials have been skeptical that Kim would be willing to travel far.

Last week the leaders of North and South Korea met and pledged to end hostilities and work toward the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, seeming to increase the likelihood of the&nbspTrump-Kim summit. A war between North and South ended in July 1953 in a truce rather than an official peace treaty.

On Friday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, a goal that the United States also seeks as it tries to prevent North Korea developing a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States.

A senior adviser to Moon told Reuters last week that Seoul had a "comprehensive road map" that it was sharing with Washington before the summit between&nbspTrump&nbspand Kim.

If&nbspTrump&nbspmeets with Kim at the DMZ, it will not be the first time the White House had planned a trip to that border. On a 12-day trip to multiple Asian countries in November,&nbspTrump&nbspvisited South Korea, but a surprise visit to the DMZ was scrapped due to weather issues.

Trump is expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen

US&nbspPresident Donald&nbspTrump&nbspon Monday suggested his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un take place at the Peace House on the border between North and South Korea, as preparations for the summit advance. "Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!"&nbspTrump&nbspsaid on Twitter. Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018 × Trump&nbspis expected to meet with Kim in weeks, and said in an interview on Thursday that he was considering five locations for his summit with the North Korean leader, although he has said multiple times that the talks may not happen. The Peace House is in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, on the border between the two countries. It is the same site as the one that hosted Kim's historic meeting last week with the South Korean president. The choices of a venue for the&nbspTrump&nbspsummit also include neutral third countries like Singapore, but U.S. officials have been skeptical that Kim would be willing to travel far. Last week the leaders of North and South Korea met and pledged to end hostilities and work toward the "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, seeming to increase the likelihood of the&nbspTrump-Kim summit. A war between North and South ended in July 1953 in a truce rather than an official peace treaty. On Friday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula, a goal that the United States also seeks as it tries to prevent North Korea developing a nuclear weapon that could reach the United States. A senior adviser to Moon told Reuters last week that Seoul had a "comprehensive road map" that it was sharing with Washington before the summit between&nbspTrump&nbspand Kim. If&nbspTrump&nbspmeets with Kim at the DMZ, it will not be the first time the White House had planned a trip to that border. On a 12-day trip to multiple Asian countries in November,&nbspTrump&nbspvisited South Korea, but a surprise visit to the DMZ was scrapped due to weather issues.

Trump suggests meeting Kim Jong Un at Korea's Peace House

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during Friday's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would close the country's nuclear test site next month, Moon's office said.

"Kim said during the summit... That he would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May," reports said quoting Moon's spokesman&nbsp;on Sunday.&nbsp;

During Friday summit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons.

Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader.

The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said.

"Kim said during the summit... That he would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May," Moon's spokesman told reporters

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during Friday's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would close the country's nuclear test site next month, Moon's office said. "Kim said during the summit... That he would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May," reports said quoting Moon's spokesman on Sunday. During Friday summit, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons. Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader. The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said.

North Korea to dismantle nuclear test site in May: South Korea

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/meeting-with-north-korea-could-happen-in-3-to-4-weeks-says-donald-trump-133505">Meeting with North Korea could happen in '3 or 4 weeks', says Donald Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday a meeting with North Korea could happen over the next three to four weeks.

"I think we will have a meeting over the next three or four weeks," Trump said at a campaign rally in Washington, Michigan. "It's going be a very important meeting, the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula."&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-to-dismantle-its-nuclear-test-site-in-may-south-korea-133515">North Korea to dismantle its nuclear test site in May: South Korea</a>

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during Friday's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would close the country's nuclear test site next month, Moon's office said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-turkey-and-iran-need-to-help-clear-syria-of-terrorists---lavrov-133502">Russia, Turkey and Iran need to help clear Syria of terrorists: Russian Foreign Minister</a>

Russia, Turkey and Iran need to help Syria's government clear its country of terrorists, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday during a trilateral meeting in Moscow with his counterparts from Turkey and Iran.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/her-order-violates-fundamental-rights-of-people-puducherry-cm-on-kiran-bedis-rice-subsidy-order-to-only-lean-villages-133512">Violates fundamental rights, says Puducherry CM after LG Kiran Bedi orders free rice only for 'clean villages'</a>

Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi's order, stating that the free rice distribution scheme would be applicable to villages free from open defecation and garbage, sparked a controversy. Bedi had to face a wave of criticism over her remark. Chief Minister Velu Narayanasamy on Saturday also reacted saying that she had no idea about the implications of her order.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-will-return-to-my-devotees-after-getting-aides-out-asarams-audio-clip-from-jodhpur-prison-goes-viral-133514">I will return to my devotees after getting aides out: Asaram's audio clip from Jodhpur prison goes viral</a>

Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who currently serves a life term in Jodhpur jail, was heard talking about his plan his to come out of jail in an online audio clip that went viral yesterday.

Meeting with North Korea could happen in '3 or 4 weeks', says Donald Trump US President Donald Trump said on Saturday a meeting with North Korea could happen over the next three to four weeks. "I think we will have a meeting over the next three or four weeks," Trump said at a campaign rally in Washington, Michigan. "It's going be a very important meeting, the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." North Korea to dismantle its nuclear test site in May: South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during Friday's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would close the country's nuclear test site next month, Moon's office said. Russia, Turkey and Iran need to help clear Syria of terrorists: Russian Foreign Minister Russia, Turkey and Iran need to help Syria's government clear its country of terrorists, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday during a trilateral meeting in Moscow with his counterparts from Turkey and Iran. Violates fundamental rights, says Puducherry CM after LG Kiran Bedi orders free rice only for 'clean villages' Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi's order, stating that the free rice distribution scheme would be applicable to villages free from open defecation and garbage, sparked a controversy. Bedi had to face a wave of criticism over her remark. Chief Minister Velu Narayanasamy on Saturday also reacted saying that she had no idea about the implications of her order. I will return to my devotees after getting aides out: Asaram's audio clip from Jodhpur prison goes viral Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who currently serves a life term in Jodhpur jail, was heard talking about his plan his to come out of jail in an online audio clip that went viral yesterday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told South Korean president Moon Jae-in that he would shut his Nuclear weapons plan after United States promise not to invade North Korea The New York Times reported the South Korean government spokesperson saying on Sunday.

Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom.

During that summit, he announced to close the country's nuclear test site in May in presence of experts and journalists from South Korea and the United States to make it more transparent. They also agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons.

Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader.

The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un has also agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, after the historic North-South Summit.&nbsp;

Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said.

Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told South Korean president Moon Jae-in that he would shut his Nuclear weapons plan after United States promise not to invade North Korea The New York Times reported the South Korean government spokesperson saying on Sunday. Kim Jong Un said this during a historic faith building summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at Panmunjom. During that summit, he announced to close the country's nuclear test site in May in presence of experts and journalists from South Korea and the United States to make it more transparent. They also agreed to work to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons. Their summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from the North Korean leader. The office also said North Korea would change its time zone - currently half an hour different - to match that of the South, a BBC report said. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Un has also agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, after the historic North-South Summit. Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said.

Kim Jong-un says he’ll denuclearise if US promises not to invade

US President Donald Trump on Saturday informed about his conversation with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the recent development on the Korean Peninsula.

The historic meeting between Moon and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un on Friday culminated in a mutual promise to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and take immediate measures to initiate denuclearisation.&nbsp;

Trump took to Twitter saying that he had a "very good talk" with President Moon. He also noted that the time and the location for his upcoming meeting with Kim Jon-Un have also been decided.&nbsp;

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Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea is being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/990225456233316354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea are being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations," read Trump's tweet.

US President Donald Trump had a busy week meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.&nbsp;

In a press conference with Merkel on Friday, Trump noted having a "very good working relationship" with Kim Jong-Un and that he thinks that "some very good things can happen" with North Korea.&nbsp;

Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June.&nbsp;

Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June

US President Donald Trump on Saturday informed about his conversation with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe regarding the recent development on the Korean Peninsula. The historic meeting between Moon and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-Un on Friday culminated in a mutual promise to promote peace on the Korean peninsula and take immediate measures to initiate denuclearisation. Trump took to Twitter saying that he had a "very good talk" with President Moon. He also noted that the time and the location for his upcoming meeting with Kim Jon-Un have also been decided. Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea is being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 28, 2018 × "Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea are being set. Also spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan to inform him of the ongoing negotiations," read Trump's tweet. US President Donald Trump had a busy week meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In a press conference with Merkel on Friday, Trump noted having a "very good working relationship" with Kim Jong-Un and that he thinks that "some very good things can happen" with North Korea. Trump is expected to meet the North Korean leader in May-June.

Trump has 'very good talk' with Moon, Abe over Korean Peninsula

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un has agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, two days after the historic North-South Summit.&nbsp

Kim had a word with South Korea president Moon-Jae-in on Friday after which Moon had relayed Kim’s remark to President Shinzo Abe in a telephone call Sunday morning.

Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said.

Reports also said that Moon also discussed the abductions of Japanese nationals during the summit adding that it was their primary focus. The abduction case remains a critical issue to any talks between Japan and North Korea. Tokyo officially recognizes 17 people as having been kidnapped by the North in the 1970s and 1980s. Five of them were returned in 2002, but the North insists eight have died and the other four never entered its territory.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders agreed to cooperate so the North will take concrete actions toward denuclearization, Abe said.

Following the telephone talks, Abe met with Suh Hoon, director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, who visited Tokyo to brief Abe on the landmark summit.

In a separate teleconference late on Saturday, Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump also agreed that North Korea needs to take concrete action toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

He said they recognized the need to closely follow developments related to North Korea in the talks held a day after the historic inter-Korean summit between North and South Korea.

The summit -- only the third-ever between the leaders of the two neighbours -- came ahead of Kim's planned meeting with US President Donald Trump after months of tensions sparked by North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile tests last year. 
&nbsp

Kim had a word with South Korea president Moon-Jae-in on Friday after which Moon had relayed Kim’s remark to President Shinzo Abe in a telephone call Sunday morning

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un has agreed to have a dialogue with Japan "any time", Seoul's presidential office said Sunday, two days after the historic North-South Summit. Kim had a word with South Korea president Moon-Jae-in on Friday after which Moon had relayed Kim’s remark to President Shinzo Abe in a telephone call Sunday morning. Abe told Moon that Tokyo intends to work to hold a bilateral summit with Pyongyang, adding that he hopes Moon will mediate if necessary, the Blue House said. Reports also said that Moon also discussed the abductions of Japanese nationals during the summit adding that it was their primary focus. The abduction case remains a critical issue to any talks between Japan and North Korea. Tokyo officially recognizes 17 people as having been kidnapped by the North in the 1970s and 1980s. Five of them were returned in 2002, but the North insists eight have died and the other four never entered its territory. The Japanese and South Korean leaders agreed to cooperate so the North will take concrete actions toward denuclearization, Abe said. Following the telephone talks, Abe met with Suh Hoon, director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, who visited Tokyo to brief Abe on the landmark summit. In a separate teleconference late on Saturday, Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump also agreed that North Korea needs to take concrete action toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He said they recognized the need to closely follow developments related to North Korea in the talks held a day after the historic inter-Korean summit between North and South Korea. The summit -- only the third-ever between the leaders of the two neighbours -- came ahead of Kim's planned meeting with US President Donald Trump after months of tensions sparked by North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile tests last year.

North Korea willing to talk to Japan at 'any time'

At their first summit in more than a decade on Friday, the leaders of North and South Korea held hands, planted a tree, and signed a pledge to pursue peace on the peninsula.

The heavy symbolism of the night was the culmination of more than three months of efforts by both Koreas to change the political tone after last year's missile tests and military threats.

What that change of tone means for the prospect of long-term peace on the peninsula is still an open question. Analysts say South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have to nurture the reduced tensions into concrete moves.

Sceptics view Kim's overtures as a duplicitous attempt to buy time, while others argue any real peace deal requires talking to the North Koreans.

Many of the thorniest issues, however, can't be solved by the two Koreas alone, leaving their leaders to focus on inter-Korean relations while trying to set the stage for Kim's expected summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump.

"This summit was just spadework, preparation for the North Korea-US&nbspsummit to happen in the near future," said Kim Seung-hwan, a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "That is the main game."

The coming weeks will be a busy time for South Korean officials.

Moon may meet with Trump before the US&nbsppresident's summit with Kim, and the South Korean president is also expected to meet with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts at a trilateral summit in early May.

South Korean officials will continue to closely coordinate with the Americans, and Moon will provide details of his meeting with Kim, said Moon Chung-in, a special adviser to Moon for foreign affairs and national security.

"Moon will be collecting information for Trump when he visits Washington in mid-May," he said. "Our government has come up with a comprehensive roadmap and we've been sharing that roadmap with the US"

While some observers criticized Friday's joint declaration for being light on specifics, others said outside countries like the United States and China needed to be involved in decisions on denuclearisation or a peace deal.

"There were important optics and symbols that can be built upon and the two leaders did some necessary things," said Andray Abrahamian, a research fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. "They left the nuclear issue vague, which was the right thing to do. Moon has teed it up let's see if Trump can carry it across the line."

Inter-Korean relations

Trump has taken credit for Kim's sudden willingness to talk, and Moon has also praised the American president's campaign of "maximum pressure" and sanctions for helping.

Much of the change in tone from confrontation to engagement has been driven by the two Korean leaders, however, starting with Kim's New Year's address, in which he said he was open to reducing tensions with South Korea and was willing to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics.

The Moon administration quickly responded, sparking a flurry of diplomatic visits and cross-border exchanges. It was South Korean officials who conveyed Kim's invitation to meet with Trump, and they helped arranged CIA Director Mike Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang.

Days before Friday's summit, Kim said North Korea would suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests and dismantle its only known nuclear test site.

"The shift to dialogue was made possible in the first instance by North Korea’s decision to engage with South Korea at the beginning of 2018, and from there, thanks in no small part to Moon Jae-in's deft diplomacy," Christopher Green, a senior adviser at International Crisis Group wrote in a report on Friday.

With the major inter-Korean engagements at the Olympics and the summit over, the two countries say they will deepen their engagement.

As part of efforts to reduce tensions, North and South Korea agreed to open a liaison office, stop propaganda broadcasts and allow divided families to meet.

Moon and Kim have also agreed to stay in close communication Moon plans to visit Pyongyang later this year.

Sceptics view Kim's overtures as a duplicitous attempt to buy time, while others argue any real peace deal requires talking to the North Koreans

At their first summit in more than a decade on Friday, the leaders of North and South Korea held hands, planted a tree, and signed a pledge to pursue peace on the peninsula. The heavy symbolism of the night was the culmination of more than three months of efforts by both Koreas to change the political tone after last year's missile tests and military threats. What that change of tone means for the prospect of long-term peace on the peninsula is still an open question. Analysts say South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will have to nurture the reduced tensions into concrete moves. Sceptics view Kim's overtures as a duplicitous attempt to buy time, while others argue any real peace deal requires talking to the North Koreans. Many of the thorniest issues, however, can't be solved by the two Koreas alone, leaving their leaders to focus on inter-Korean relations while trying to set the stage for Kim's expected summit with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump. "This summit was just spadework, preparation for the North Korea-US&nbspsummit to happen in the near future," said Kim Seung-hwan, a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "That is the main game." The coming weeks will be a busy time for South Korean officials. Moon may meet with Trump before the US&nbsppresident's summit with Kim, and the South Korean president is also expected to meet with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts at a trilateral summit in early May. South Korean officials will continue to closely coordinate with the Americans, and Moon will provide details of his meeting with Kim, said Moon Chung-in, a special adviser to Moon for foreign affairs and national security. "Moon will be collecting information for Trump when he visits Washington in mid-May," he said. "Our government has come up with a comprehensive roadmap and we've been sharing that roadmap with the US" While some observers criticized Friday's joint declaration for being light on specifics, others said outside countries like the United States and China needed to be involved in decisions on denuclearisation or a peace deal. "There were important optics and symbols that can be built upon and the two leaders did some necessary things," said Andray Abrahamian, a research fellow at Pacific Forum CSIS. "They left the nuclear issue vague, which was the right thing to do. Moon has teed it up let's see if Trump can carry it across the line." Inter-Korean relations Trump has taken credit for Kim's sudden willingness to talk, and Moon has also praised the American president's campaign of "maximum pressure" and sanctions for helping. Much of the change in tone from confrontation to engagement has been driven by the two Korean leaders, however, starting with Kim's New Year's address, in which he said he was open to reducing tensions with South Korea and was willing to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics. The Moon administration quickly responded, sparking a flurry of diplomatic visits and cross-border exchanges. It was South Korean officials who conveyed Kim's invitation to meet with Trump, and they helped arranged CIA Director Mike Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang. Days before Friday's summit, Kim said North Korea would suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests and dismantle its only known nuclear test site. "The shift to dialogue was made possible in the first instance by North Korea’s decision to engage with South Korea at the beginning of 2018, and from there, thanks in no small part to Moon Jae-in's deft diplomacy," Christopher Green, a senior adviser at International Crisis Group wrote in a report on Friday. With the major inter-Korean engagements at the Olympics and the summit over, the two countries say they will deepen their engagement. As part of efforts to reduce tensions, North and South Korea agreed to open a liaison office, stop propaganda broadcasts and allow divided families to meet. Moon and Kim have also agreed to stay in close communication Moon plans to visit Pyongyang later this year.

After summit, South Korea plots 'roadmap' for Trump's meeting with Kim Jong-Un

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Saturday the country will send a military patrol aircraft to monitor North Korean vessels suspected of transferring prohibited goods in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

Canada also plans to deploy patrol aircraft for such activities, and surveillance planes from both countries will be based in the US&nbspmilitary's Kadena air base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, the Japanese government said in a separate statement.

The announcements came a day after the leaders of North and South Korea pledged at an historic summit to work for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

However, US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, who is also set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he would maintain pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions that were imposed in a bid to rein in the North's missile and nuclear programmes.

Australia, a staunch US&nbspally, also promised to keep up economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea.

"We do have a P-8A surveillance aircraft that is going to be working in the region to monitor compliance with sanctions, and that is part of our collaboration with our partners in that exercise to enforce those UN&nbspsanctions," Turnbull said, speaking during a televised news conference.

"What has been occurring is that sanctions have been evaded by transferring materials from ship to ship...to add to the surveillance of the area enables that to be identified and then, of course, those who are a party to that to be held responsible and brought to account."

Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said pressure had to be kept on North Korea to ensure the Korean peninsula was denuclearised.

The move by Australia and Canada to deploy patrol aircraft comes after a British warship arrived in Japan this month to join efforts to police UN&nbspsanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes.

"Japan welcomes these (surveillance) activities from the view point of upholding the maximum pressure on North Korea while maintaining the solidarity of the international community," the Japanese government said in a statement, referring to the moves by Australia, Canada and Britain.

Senior US&nbspofficials said in February the Trump administration and key Asian allies were preparing to expand interceptions of ships suspected of violating the sanctions on North Korea. The strategy called for closer tracking of ships suspected of carrying banned weapons components and other prohibited cargo to and from North Korea.

The announcements came a day after the leaders of North and South Korea pledged at an historic summit to work for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Saturday the country will send a military patrol aircraft to monitor North Korean vessels suspected of transferring prohibited goods in defiance of United Nations sanctions. Canada also plans to deploy patrol aircraft for such activities, and surveillance planes from both countries will be based in the US&nbspmilitary's Kadena air base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, the Japanese government said in a separate statement. The announcements came a day after the leaders of North and South Korea pledged at an historic summit to work for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. However, US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, who is also set to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he would maintain pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions that were imposed in a bid to rein in the North's missile and nuclear programmes. Australia, a staunch US&nbspally, also promised to keep up economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. "We do have a P-8A surveillance aircraft that is going to be working in the region to monitor compliance with sanctions, and that is part of our collaboration with our partners in that exercise to enforce those UN&nbspsanctions," Turnbull said, speaking during a televised news conference. "What has been occurring is that sanctions have been evaded by transferring materials from ship to ship...to add to the surveillance of the area enables that to be identified and then, of course, those who are a party to that to be held responsible and brought to account." Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said pressure had to be kept on North Korea to ensure the Korean peninsula was denuclearised. The move by Australia and Canada to deploy patrol aircraft comes after a British warship arrived in Japan this month to join efforts to police UN&nbspsanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes. "Japan welcomes these (surveillance) activities from the view point of upholding the maximum pressure on North Korea while maintaining the solidarity of the international community," the Japanese government said in a statement, referring to the moves by Australia, Canada and Britain. Senior US&nbspofficials said in February the Trump administration and key Asian allies were preparing to expand interceptions of ships suspected of violating the sanctions on North Korea. The strategy called for closer tracking of ships suspected of carrying banned weapons components and other prohibited cargo to and from North Korea.

Australia, Canada to send military aircraft to monitor North Korean ships

&nbsp;US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said he would discuss the Iran nuclear accord with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during their White House meeting on Friday (April 27), as well as trade and other issues.

"I know we're going to have a very good discussion on Iran," Trump told reporters, adding that he did not know whether they would come to any agreement.

Trump also sought to counter the notion of of any tension between him and the German leader.

"We have a really great relationship and we actually have had a great relationship right from the beginning but some people didn't understand that," Trump said.

During his campaign, Trump criticized Merkel repeatedly, particularly over her decision to allow Syrian refugees into Germany. He also criticized Time Magazine for naming Merkel their 'person of the year' in 2015.

Trump also discussed his upcoming meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong, and said that they were considering two or three possible sites. He added that he would not be "played" by his North Korean counterpart.

US President Donald Trump said he would discuss the Iran nuclear accord with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during their White House meeting on Friday (April 27), as well as trade and other issues

US President Donald Trump said he would discuss the Iran nuclear accord with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during their White House meeting on Friday (April 27), as well as trade and other issues. "I know we're going to have a very good discussion on Iran," Trump told reporters, adding that he did not know whether they would come to any agreement. Trump also sought to counter the notion of of any tension between him and the German leader. "We have a really great relationship and we actually have had a great relationship right from the beginning but some people didn't understand that," Trump said. During his campaign, Trump criticized Merkel repeatedly, particularly over her decision to allow Syrian refugees into Germany. He also criticized Time Magazine for naming Merkel their 'person of the year' in 2015. Trump also discussed his upcoming meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong, and said that they were considering two or three possible sites. He added that he would not be "played" by his North Korean counterpart.

We have a really great relationship: Trump on Merkel

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a joint statement on Friday after meeting at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between their countries.

Kim became the first North Korean leader since the 1950-53 Korean War to set foot in South Korea after shaking hands with his counterpart over a concrete curb marking the border at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Here are the major points of a joint statement they issued.

INTER-KOREAN EXCHANGES

<ul>
	<li>The two Koreas agree to fully implement all existing agreements and declarations adopted so far between the two sides.</li>
	<li>They agree to hold dialogue and negotiations in various fields including high level talks, take active measures to implement summit agreement.</li>
	<li>They agree to establish joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Kaesong industrial zone on their border.</li>
	<li>They agree to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels.</li>
	<li>They agree to actively stage various joint events on special dates in which participants from all levels, including central and local governments, parliaments, political parties and civil organisations.</li>
	<li>They agree to jointly participate in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games.</li>
	<li>They agree to endeavour to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the nation's division.</li>
	<li>They agree to convene an Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting to discuss and solve issues including the reunion of families separated by the Korean War.</li>
	<li>They agree to hold reunion programme for separated family on Aug. 15.</li>
	<li>They agree to implement projects previously agreed in an Oct. 4, 2007, declaration to promote balanced economic growth and joint prosperity.</li>
	<li>They agree to adopt practical steps toward connecting and modernising railways and roads between them on the eastern side of the peninsula as well as between Seoul and Sinuiju, in northwest North Korea.</li>
</ul>

MILITARY

<ul>
	<li>The two Koreas agree to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain including land, sea and air.</li>
	<li>They agree to transform the Demiliatrised Zone into a peace zone as of May 1 by halting all hostile acts and eliminating their means, including loudspeaker broadcasts and the distribution of propaganda leaflets.</li>
	<li>They agree to devise a practical scheme to transform the current Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone to prevent accidental military clashes.</li>
	<li>They agree to hold frequent defence ministerial and working-level meetings in a bid to immediately discuss and solve military issues, with the first military talks to be held in May at the rank of general.</li>
</ul>

PEACE REGIME

<ul>
	<li>The two Koreas reaffirm and agree to strictly adhere to a Non-Aggression Agreement that precludes the use of force in any form against each other.</li>
	<li>They agree to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, as military tension is alleviated and substantial progress is made in military confidence-building.</li>
	<li>They agree to actively pursue trilateral meetings involving the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the United States and China with a view to declaring an end to the War and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime.</li>
	<li>They confirm the common goal of realising, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.</li>
</ul>

Kim became the first North Korean leader since the 1950-53 Korean War to set foot in South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed a joint statement on Friday after meeting at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between their countries. Kim became the first North Korean leader since the 1950-53 Korean War to set foot in South Korea after shaking hands with his counterpart over a concrete curb marking the border at the truce village of Panmunjom. Here are the major points of a joint statement they issued. INTER-KOREAN EXCHANGES The two Koreas agree to fully implement all existing agreements and declarations adopted so far between the two sides. They agree to hold dialogue and negotiations in various fields including high level talks, take active measures to implement summit agreement. They agree to establish joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Kaesong industrial zone on their border. They agree to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels. They agree to actively stage various joint events on special dates in which participants from all levels, including central and local governments, parliaments, political parties and civil organisations. They agree to jointly participate in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games. They agree to endeavour to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the nation's division. They agree to convene an Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting to discuss and solve issues including the reunion of families separated by the Korean War. They agree to hold reunion programme for separated family on Aug. 15. They agree to implement projects previously agreed in an Oct. 4, 2007, declaration to promote balanced economic growth and joint prosperity. They agree to adopt practical steps toward connecting and modernising railways and roads between them on the eastern side of the peninsula as well as between Seoul and Sinuiju, in northwest North Korea. MILITARY The two Koreas agree to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain including land, sea and air. They agree to transform the Demiliatrised Zone into a peace zone as of May 1 by halting all hostile acts and eliminating their means, including loudspeaker broadcasts and the distribution of propaganda leaflets. They agree to devise a practical scheme to transform the current Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone to prevent accidental military clashes. They agree to hold frequent defence ministerial and working-level meetings in a bid to immediately discuss and solve military issues, with the first military talks to be held in May at the rank of general. PEACE REGIME The two Koreas reaffirm and agree to strictly adhere to a Non-Aggression Agreement that precludes the use of force in any form against each other. They agree to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, as military tension is alleviated and substantial progress is made in military confidence-building. They agree to actively pursue trilateral meetings involving the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the United States and China with a view to declaring an end to the War and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime. They confirm the common goal of realising, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

Key takeaways from Korean leaders' joint statement from historic summit

Below is the full joint statement by North and South Korea released by the South Korean presidential office on Friday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged to work for the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". It punctuated a day of smiles and handshakes at the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade.

During this momentous period of historical transformation on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the enduring aspiration of the Korean people for peace, prosperity and unification, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held an Inter-Korean Summit Meeting at the ‘Peace House’ at Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.

The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million Korean people and the whole world that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and thus a new era of peace has begun.

The two leaders, sharing the firm commitment to bring a swift a swift end to the Cold War relic of longstanding division and confrontation, to boldly approach a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity, and to improve and cultivate inter-Korean relations in a more active manner, declared at this historic site of Panmunjom as follows:

1. South and North Korea will reconnect the blood relations of the people and bring forward the future of co-prosperity and unification led by Koreans by facilitating comprehensive and groundbreaking advancement in inter-Korean relations. Improving and cultivating inter-Korean relations is the prevalent desire of the whole nation and the urgent calling of the times that cannot be held back any further.

1) South and North Korea affirmed the principle of determining the destiny of the Korean nation on their own accord and agreed to bring forth the watershed moment for the improvement of inter-Korean relations by fully implementing all existing agreements and declarations adopted between the two sides thus far.

2) South and North Korea agreed to hold dialogue and negotiations in various fields including at high level, and to take active measures for the implementation of the agreements reached at the Summit.

3) South and North Korea agreed to establish a joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Gaeseong region in order to facilitate close consultation between the authorities as well as smooth exchanges and cooperation between the peoples.

4) South and North Korea agreed to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels in order to rejuvenate the sense of national reconciliation and unity. Between South and North, the two sides will encourage the atmosphere of amity and cooperation by actively staging various joint events on the dates that hold special meaning for both South and North Korea, such as June 15, in which participants from all levels, including central and local governments, parliaments, political parties, and civil organizations, will be involved. On the international front, the two sides agreed to demonstrate their collective wisdom, talents, and solidarity by jointly participating in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games.

5) South and North Korea agreed to endeavor to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the division of the nation, and to convene the Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting to discuss and solve various issues including the reunion of separated families. In this vein, South and North Korea agreed to proceed with reunion programs for the separated families on the occasion of the National Liberation Day of August 15 this year.

6) South and North Korea agreed to actively implement the projects previously agreed in the 2007 October 4 Declaration, in order to promote balanced economic growth and co-prosperity of the nation. As a first step, the two sides agreed to adopt practical steps towards the connection and modernization of the railways and roads on the eastern transportation corridor as well as between Seoul and Sinuiju for their utilization.

2. South and North Korea will make joint efforts to alleviate the acute military tension and practically eliminate the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula.

1) South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea, that are the source of military tension and conflict. In this vein, the two sides agreed to transform the demilitarized zone into a peace zone in a genuine sense by ceasing as of May 2 this year all hostile acts and eliminating their means, including broadcasting through loudspeakers and distribution of leaflets, in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line.

2) South and North Korea agreed to devise a practical scheme to turn the areas around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone in order to prevent accidental military clashes and guarantee safe fishing activities.

3) South and North Korea agreed to take various military measures to ensure active mutual cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts. The two sides agreed to hold frequent meetings between military authorities, including the defense Ministers Meeting, in order to immediately discuss and solve military issues that arise between them. In this regard, the two sides agreed to first convene military talks at the rank of general in May.

3. South and North Korea will actively cooperate to establish a permanent and solid peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Bringing an end to the current unnatural state of armistice and establishing a robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula is a historical mission that must not be delayed any further.

1) South and North Korea reaffirmed the Non-Aggression Agreement that precludes the use of force in any form against each other, and agreed to strictly adhere to this Agreement.

2) South and North Korea agreed to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, as military tension is alleviated and substantial progress is made in military confidence-building.

3) During this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the Armistice, South and North Korea agreed to actively pursue trilateral meetings involving the two Koreas and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the two Koreas, the United States and China with a view to declaring an end to the war and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime.

4) South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. South and North Korea shared the view that the measures being initiated by North Korea are very meaningful and crucial for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and agreed to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities in this regard. South and North Korea agreed to actively seek the support and cooperation of the international community for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

The two leaders agreed, through regular meetings and direct telephone conversations, to hold frequent and candid discussions on issues vital to the nation, to strengthen mutual trust and to jointly endeavor to strengthen the positive momentum towards continuous advancement of inter-Korean relations as well as peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean Peninsula.

In this context, President Moon Jae-in agreed to visit Pyongyang this fall.

April 27, 2018

Done in Panmunjom

Moon Jae-in

President

Republic of Korea

Kim Jong Un

Chairman

State Affairs Commission

Democratic People's

Republic of Korea

The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million Korean people and the whole world that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and thus a new era of peace has begun.

Below is the full joint statement by North and South Korea released by the South Korean presidential office on Friday after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged to work for the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula". It punctuated a day of smiles and handshakes at the first inter-Korean summit in more than a decade. During this momentous period of historical transformation on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the enduring aspiration of the Korean people for peace, prosperity and unification, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held an Inter-Korean Summit Meeting at the ‘Peace House’ at Panmunjom on April 27, 2018. The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million Korean people and the whole world that there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and thus a new era of peace has begun. The two leaders, sharing the firm commitment to bring a swift a swift end to the Cold War relic of longstanding division and confrontation, to boldly approach a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity, and to improve and cultivate inter-Korean relations in a more active manner, declared at this historic site of Panmunjom as follows: 1. South and North Korea will reconnect the blood relations of the people and bring forward the future of co-prosperity and unification led by Koreans by facilitating comprehensive and groundbreaking advancement in inter-Korean relations. Improving and cultivating inter-Korean relations is the prevalent desire of the whole nation and the urgent calling of the times that cannot be held back any further. 1) South and North Korea affirmed the principle of determining the destiny of the Korean nation on their own accord and agreed to bring forth the watershed moment for the improvement of inter-Korean relations by fully implementing all existing agreements and declarations adopted between the two sides thus far. 2) South and North Korea agreed to hold dialogue and negotiations in various fields including at high level, and to take active measures for the implementation of the agreements reached at the Summit. 3) South and North Korea agreed to establish a joint liaison office with resident representatives of both sides in the Gaeseong region in order to facilitate close consultation between the authorities as well as smooth exchanges and cooperation between the peoples. 4) South and North Korea agreed to encourage more active cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts at all levels in order to rejuvenate the sense of national reconciliation and unity. Between South and North, the two sides will encourage the atmosphere of amity and cooperation by actively staging various joint events on the dates that hold special meaning for both South and North Korea, such as June 15, in which participants from all levels, including central and local governments, parliaments, political parties, and civil organizations, will be involved. On the international front, the two sides agreed to demonstrate their collective wisdom, talents, and solidarity by jointly participating in international sports events such as the 2018 Asian Games. 5) South and North Korea agreed to endeavor to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the division of the nation, and to convene the Inter-Korean Red Cross Meeting to discuss and solve various issues including the reunion of separated families. In this vein, South and North Korea agreed to proceed with reunion programs for the separated families on the occasion of the National Liberation Day of August 15 this year. 6) South and North Korea agreed to actively implement the projects previously agreed in the 2007 October 4 Declaration, in order to promote balanced economic growth and co-prosperity of the nation. As a first step, the two sides agreed to adopt practical steps towards the connection and modernization of the railways and roads on the eastern transportation corridor as well as between Seoul and Sinuiju for their utilization. 2. South and North Korea will make joint efforts to alleviate the acute military tension and practically eliminate the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula. 1) South and North Korea agreed to completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain, including land, air and sea, that are the source of military tension and conflict. In this vein, the two sides agreed to transform the demilitarized zone into a peace zone in a genuine sense by ceasing as of May 2 this year all hostile acts and eliminating their means, including broadcasting through loudspeakers and distribution of leaflets, in the areas along the Military Demarcation Line. 2) South and North Korea agreed to devise a practical scheme to turn the areas around the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea into a maritime peace zone in order to prevent accidental military clashes and guarantee safe fishing activities. 3) South and North Korea agreed to take various military measures to ensure active mutual cooperation, exchanges, visits and contacts. The two sides agreed to hold frequent meetings between military authorities, including the defense Ministers Meeting, in order to immediately discuss and solve military issues that arise between them. In this regard, the two sides agreed to first convene military talks at the rank of general in May. 3. South and North Korea will actively cooperate to establish a permanent and solid peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Bringing an end to the current unnatural state of armistice and establishing a robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula is a historical mission that must not be delayed any further. 1) South and North Korea reaffirmed the Non-Aggression Agreement that precludes the use of force in any form against each other, and agreed to strictly adhere to this Agreement. 2) South and North Korea agreed to carry out disarmament in a phased manner, as military tension is alleviated and substantial progress is made in military confidence-building. 3) During this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the Armistice, South and North Korea agreed to actively pursue trilateral meetings involving the two Koreas and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the two Koreas, the United States and China with a view to declaring an end to the war and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime. 4) South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. South and North Korea shared the view that the measures being initiated by North Korea are very meaningful and crucial for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and agreed to carry out their respective roles and responsibilities in this regard. South and North Korea agreed to actively seek the support and cooperation of the international community for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders agreed, through regular meetings and direct telephone conversations, to hold frequent and candid discussions on issues vital to the nation, to strengthen mutual trust and to jointly endeavor to strengthen the positive momentum towards continuous advancement of inter-Korean relations as well as peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean Peninsula. In this context, President Moon Jae-in agreed to visit Pyongyang this fall. April 27, 2018 Done in Panmunjom Moon Jae-in President Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un Chairman State Affairs Commission Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Full statement: Panmunjom declaration for peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that three or four possible dates were being considered for his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"We have a decision to be made. We have three and four dates. That includes five locations. That will be narrowed down," Trump said on Fox News.

Trump had previously said his much-anticipated meeting with Kim would take place in May or early June, within weeks of Friday's historic inter-Korean summit.

Earlier on April 17, President Trump had confirmed direct talks between the United States and North Korea. He also confirmed that his CIA chief Mike Pompeo took part in secret talks with Kim Jong-Un.

The tension-wracked peninsula has seen a dramatic diplomatic detente, with the nuclear-armed North last week announcing a moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches.

On April 10, Kim Jong-Un had publicly acknowledged the prospect of talks between the United States and Pyongyang for the first time.

If the talks go ahead, it would be the first time that a sitting US President would&nbsp;meet a North Korean leader.

(With inputs from PTI)

Trump had previously said his much-anticipated meeting with Kim would take place in May or early June, within weeks of Friday's historic inter-Korean summit.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that three or four possible dates were being considered for his landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "We have a decision to be made. We have three and four dates. That includes five locations. That will be narrowed down," Trump said on Fox News. Trump had previously said his much-anticipated meeting with Kim would take place in May or early June, within weeks of Friday's historic inter-Korean summit. Earlier on April 17, President Trump had confirmed direct talks between the United States and North Korea. He also confirmed that his CIA chief Mike Pompeo took part in secret talks with Kim Jong-Un. The tension-wracked peninsula has seen a dramatic diplomatic detente, with the nuclear-armed North last week announcing a moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches. On April 10, Kim Jong-Un had publicly acknowledged the prospect of talks between the United States and Pyongyang for the first time. If the talks go ahead, it would be the first time that a sitting US President would meet a North Korean leader. (With inputs from PTI)

US president Donald Trump says 3 or 4 dates possible for Kim Jong Un summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be served a lavish feast at the Korean summit on Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the South's presidential Blue House said on Tuesday.

Kim Jong-un will cross the demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea on Friday for the highest level meeting held to date with South’s President Moon Jae-in.

The two states are set to discuss the North’s nuclear arsenal which its leader has vowed to dismantle.

The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday.

North Korea has never confirmed Kim Jong Un was educated in Switzerland, but former classmates and teachers have said they spent time with him there. Swiss newspapers have also reported Kim went to school under a pseudonym in Switzerland.

Kim and Moon can wash down their meal with a fragrant wine made from azaleas.

Also on their table will be a distilled liquor called munbaeju that is 40 per cent alcohol by volume and which originated in the North, but is now traditionally made in the South.

Here's what in store:&nbsp;

Cold salad with octopus 

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The octopus is from Tongyeong at the southern tip of the peninsula which will be served in a bed of lettuce including other vegetables.&nbsp;

Rosti 

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The fried potato dish was chosen as an homage to Kim's childhood spent in Switzerland, the Blue House said in announcing the menu for Friday's welcome dinner.

Baked John Dory

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Baked John Dory, a dish made from the flat sea fish, will be served as a nod to Moon's younger days in the South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;port city of Busan.

Dumplings with crocker fish and sea cucumber

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The dish&nbsp;originated from&nbsp;Gageo Island, Shinan county and includes dumplings stuffed with crocker fish and cucumber served in a bed of broth.&nbsp;

Charcoal-grilled beef

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The Hanwoo beef is President Moon's favorite. It&nbsp;comes from Seosan county, South Chungcheong province.

Rice organically produced using ducks

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This process of using trained ducks for weeding and pest control on rice farms originated in Bonghwa county, South Gyeongsang Province.

Grilled dalgogi fish

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Mango mousse chocolate dome

<img alt="Untitled design (5).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(5).jpg" width="770" />

Another item on the menu will be Pyongyang-style cold noodles, or naengmyeon, served in a chilled meat broth.

"President Moon had requested Pyongyang-style cold noodles from Okryu Gwan be included on the menu and North Korea gladly accepted," said Kim Eui-kyeom, the Blue House spokesman.

Okryu Gwan is North Korea's best-known restaurant famous for the dish, and has branches in China as well.

The cold noodles will be made by the head chef at Okryu Gwan, who will travel to the truce border village of Panmunjom where the two leaders will meet on Friday, the Blue House spokesman said.

The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be served a lavish feast at the Korean summit on Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the South's presidential Blue House said on Tuesday. Kim Jong-un will cross the demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea on Friday for the highest level meeting held to date with South’s President Moon Jae-in. The two states are set to discuss the North’s nuclear arsenal which its leader has vowed to dismantle. The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday. North Korea has never confirmed Kim Jong Un was educated in Switzerland, but former classmates and teachers have said they spent time with him there. Swiss newspapers have also reported Kim went to school under a pseudonym in Switzerland. Kim and Moon can wash down their meal with a fragrant wine made from azaleas. Also on their table will be a distilled liquor called munbaeju that is 40 per cent alcohol by volume and which originated in the North, but is now traditionally made in the South. Here's what in store: Cold salad with octopus The octopus is from Tongyeong at the southern tip of the peninsula which will be served in a bed of lettuce including other vegetables. Rosti The fried potato dish was chosen as an homage to Kim's childhood spent in Switzerland, the Blue House said in announcing the menu for Friday's welcome dinner. Baked John Dory Baked John Dory, a dish made from the flat sea fish, will be served as a nod to Moon's younger days in the South Korean port city of Busan. Dumplings with crocker fish and sea cucumber The dish originated from Gageo Island, Shinan county and includes dumplings stuffed with crocker fish and cucumber served in a bed of broth. Charcoal-grilled beef The Hanwoo beef is President Moon's favorite. It comes from Seosan county, South Chungcheong province. Rice organically produced using ducks This process of using trained ducks for weeding and pest control on rice farms originated in Bonghwa county, South Gyeongsang Province. Grilled dalgogi fish Mango mousse chocolate dome Another item on the menu will be Pyongyang-style cold noodles, or naengmyeon, served in a chilled meat broth. "President Moon had requested Pyongyang-style cold noodles from Okryu Gwan be included on the menu and North Korea gladly accepted," said Kim Eui-kyeom, the Blue House spokesman. Okryu Gwan is North Korea's best-known restaurant famous for the dish, and has branches in China as well. The cold noodles will be made by the head chef at Okryu Gwan, who will travel to the truce border village of Panmunjom where the two leaders will meet on Friday, the Blue House spokesman said.

Here's what Kim and Moon will feast on at the Korean Summit this week

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express his sorrow to the bus crash incident occurred on Sunday, state media reported on Tuesday.

North's central news agency KCNA quoted Kim saying that "the unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and that he couldn't control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives".

On Sunday a bus plunged from a bridge in North Hwanghae province in North Korea leaving thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans dead.

Kim Jong-un also met Chinese ambassador Li Jinjun and later he visited crash survivors in hospital.

China is North Korea's most important economic, diplomatic and sole ally but the relations between both countries has been sored through time due to Pyongyang's numerous missile and nuclear tests.

Kim visiting crash survivors in hospital and expressing his sorrow is being observed by experts as an indication of how much seriousness North Korea is taking the accident.

News reports also cited Kim saying that his government would take follow-up measures to the accident with "utmost sincerity".

Kim Jong-un also visited Beijing to personally meet Chinese President Xi-Jinping in March. The March visit was a first known visit by Kim Jong-un outside North Korea borders since 2011.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un also made an announcement for closing down its nuclear test site ahead of the Korea-summit with South Korea President Moon Jae-In and will be followed by a planned face-to-face with US President Donald Trump.

&nbsp;

Four North Koreans were also killed in the crash

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express his sorrow to the bus crash incident occurred on Sunday, state media reported on Tuesday. North's central news agency KCNA quoted Kim saying that "the unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and that he couldn't control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives". On Sunday a bus plunged from a bridge in North Hwanghae province in North Korea leaving thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans dead. Kim Jong-un also met Chinese ambassador Li Jinjun and later he visited crash survivors in hospital. China is North Korea's most important economic, diplomatic and sole ally but the relations between both countries has been sored through time due to Pyongyang's numerous missile and nuclear tests. Kim visiting crash survivors in hospital and expressing his sorrow is being observed by experts as an indication of how much seriousness North Korea is taking the accident. News reports also cited Kim saying that his government would take follow-up measures to the accident with "utmost sincerity". Kim Jong-un also visited Beijing to personally meet Chinese President Xi-Jinping in March. The March visit was a first known visit by Kim Jong-un outside North Korea borders since 2011. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un also made an announcement for closing down its nuclear test site ahead of the Korea-summit with South Korea President Moon Jae-In and will be followed by a planned face-to-face with US President Donald Trump.

North Korea's Kim Jong-un expresses 'bitter sorrow' over bus crash that killed 32 Chinese

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a "meaningful progress" for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday.&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier the country no longer needed nuclear and missile tests and would close a nuclear test site.&nbsp;

"It will also contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming South-North summit and North-United States summit," a spokesman for the president's office, Yoon Young-chan, said in a statement.

&nbsp;

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a 'meaningful progress' for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a "meaningful progress" for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier the country no longer needed nuclear and missile tests and would close a nuclear test site. "It will also contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming South-North summit and North-United States summit," a spokesman for the president's office, Yoon Young-chan, said in a statement.

North Korea making meaningful progress towards denuclearization: South Korea

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