North Korea holding talks with the United States would be nothing more than "a political tool" for Washington, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Saturday, ahead of a US envoy's visit to South Korea.

North Korea holding talks with the United States would be nothing more than "a political tool" for Washington, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Saturday, ahead of a US envoy's visit to South Korea. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said talks would not work out between the two countries and there will be no change in North Korea's policy. "We do not feel any need to sit face to face with the US, as it does not consider the DPRK-US dialogue as nothing more than a tool for grappling its political crisis," Choe said in a statement carried by state-run KCNA news agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's formal name. US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun is due to visit South Korea next week to discuss stalled talks with North Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should meet again before the US elections in November, which would help resume the stalled nuclear negotiations. Trump and Kim Jong Un met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore. They met again in Vietnam in 2019, but the talks fell apart when Trump said Kim had failed to offer enough nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles in exchange for lifting international sanctions. At their third meeting, in June 2019 at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, the two agreed to restart negotiations. Working-level talks between the two sides in Sweden in October were broken off. (With inputs from Reuters)

Talks with US would be nothing more than 'a political tool' for Washington: North Korea

US&nbsp;special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, urged Pyongyang on Monday to return offers of talks, dismissing leader Kim Jong Un's year-end deadline while highlighting Washington's willingness to discuss "all issues of interest".

Tension has been rising in recent weeks as Pyongyang has conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, stoking fears the two countries could return to a collision course they had been on before launching diplomacy last year.

Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday amid speculation he might try to salvage negotiations by reaching out to North Korea, which has vowed to take an unspecified "new path" if Washington fails to soften its stance before the end of the year.

"The United States does not have a deadline. We have a goal," Biegun told a joint news conference with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon - Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at&nbsp;the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

"Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea. It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us," Biegun said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-comments-hostile-and-unnecessary-us-envoy-stephen-biegun-268473">'HOSTILE, UNNECESSARY'</a>

Kim and Trump met three times since last year to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes but there has been scant progress. Working-level talks led by Biegun in October in Stockholm fell apart.

On Sunday, state media said North Korea had successfully conducted another test at a satellite launch site aimed at "restraining and overpowering the US&nbsp;nuclear threat," a second such test in a week.

Seoul officials are concerned the flare-up may signal a repeat of earlier cycles of détente&nbsp;ending in escalations.

Biegun, who also met South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday, expressed regret over statements from North Korean officials in recent weeks, describing them as "so hostile and negative and so unnecessary".

"But it does not have to be this way. It is not yet too late," Biegun said.

Analysts said chances are slim for North Korea to accept Biegun's call for dialogue, citing Pyongyang's recent statements Washington had "<a href="Not interested in meaningless talks just so Trump can boast: North Korea">nothing to offer</a>" even if were talks to reopen.

"For North Koreans, Biegun effectively challenged their supreme leader by brushing off the year-end deadline," said Shin Beomchul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.

Chun Yung-woo, a former South Korean nuclear envoy, said Biegun's offer appeared to be aimed at undercutting Pyongyang's bid to deal directly with Trump.

Trump's re-election battle and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/how-does-the-impeachment-of-a-us-president-work-265766">impeachment </a>inquiry against him may have led Kim to overestimate North Korea's leverage, diplomatic sources have told Reuters.

"North Korea won't likely show up at the negotiating table unless the United States promises to make clear concessions instead of calling for a meeting for meeting's sake," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul.

US special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, urged Pyongyang on Monday to return offers of talks, dismissing leader Kim Jong Un's year-end deadline while highlighting Washington's willingness to discuss "all issues of interest".

US special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, urged Pyongyang on Monday to return offers of talks, dismissing leader Kim Jong Un's year-end deadline while highlighting Washington's willingness to discuss "all issues of interest". Tension has been rising in recent weeks as Pyongyang has conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with US President Donald Trump, stoking fears the two countries could return to a collision course they had been on before launching diplomacy last year. Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday amid speculation he might try to salvage negotiations by reaching out to North Korea, which has vowed to take an unspecified "new path" if Washington fails to soften its stance before the end of the year. "The United States does not have a deadline. We have a goal," Biegun told a joint news conference with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon - Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. "Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea. It is time for us to do our jobs. Let's get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us," Biegun said. 'HOSTILE, UNNECESSARY' Kim and Trump met three times since last year to negotiate an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes but there has been scant progress. Working-level talks led by Biegun in October in Stockholm fell apart. On Sunday, state media said North Korea had successfully conducted another test at a satellite launch site aimed at "restraining and overpowering the US nuclear threat," a second such test in a week. Seoul officials are concerned the flare-up may signal a repeat of earlier cycles of détente ending in escalations. Biegun, who also met South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday, expressed regret over statements from North Korean officials in recent weeks, describing them as "so hostile and negative and so unnecessary". "But it does not have to be this way. It is not yet too late," Biegun said. Analysts said chances are slim for North Korea to accept Biegun's call for dialogue, citing Pyongyang's recent statements Washington had "nothing to offer" even if were talks to reopen. "For North Koreans, Biegun effectively challenged their supreme leader by brushing off the year-end deadline," said Shin Beomchul, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. Chun Yung-woo, a former South Korean nuclear envoy, said Biegun's offer appeared to be aimed at undercutting Pyongyang's bid to deal directly with Trump. Trump's re-election battle and the impeachment inquiry against him may have led Kim to overestimate North Korea's leverage, diplomatic sources have told Reuters. "North Korea won't likely show up at the negotiating table unless the United States promises to make clear concessions instead of calling for a meeting for meeting's sake," said Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul.

US envoy Biegun to North Korea: 'We're here, you know how to reach us'

US President Donald Trump said Monday he'd be "disappointed" if North Korea had something "in the works" as a year-end deadline from Pyongyang about the fate of their nuclear talks approaches, reported news agency AFP.

US President Donald Trump said Monday he'd be "disappointed" if North Korea had something "in the works" as a year-end deadline from Pyongyang about the fate of their nuclear talks approaches, reported news agency AFP. The nuclear-armed North has issued increasingly strident declarations in recent weeks, even promising an ominous "Christmas gift" if Washington does not come up with some concessions. The top US envoy to the negotiations with North Korea, Stephen Biegun, said in Seoul on Monday that Pyongyang's rumblings were "hostile and negative" -- and Trump said he was watching. "We'll see. I'd be disappointed if something would be in the works. And if it is, we'll take care of it," Trump said at the White House when asked about the situation. "We're watching it very closely." The negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have been stalled after the collapse of Hanoi between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea carried out a series of tests at its Sohae rocket facility this month after several weapons launch in recent weeks. "It's a concern -- their rhetoric," US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters, saying further action by North Korea could be likely. Japan and others have said recent launches involved ballistic missiles, which Pyongyang is banned from testing under UN sanctions. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump says he'd be disappointed if North Korea had something 'in the works'

The US special envoy for North Korea will arrive in South Korea on Sunday ahead of a year-end deadline set by Pyongyang for Washington to soften its approach to stalled denuclearisation talks, Seoul and Washington said on Friday.

The US special envoy for North Korea will arrive in South Korea on Sunday ahead of a year-end deadline set by Pyongyang for Washington to soften its approach to stalled denuclearisation talks, Seoul and Washington said on Friday. Stephen Biegun will be in Seoul for a three-day stay and consult with his counterpart Lee Do-hoon and other officials, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Friday. "The two sides will exchange extensive views on the recent situation on the Korean peninsula and discuss ways to bring substantial progress on achieving a complete denuclearisation and enduring peace," the ministry said in a statement. Biegun will also travel to Tokyo and meet with his Japanese counterpart, the US State Department said. Tension has been rising in recent weeks as Pyongyang has conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with US President Donald Trump, stoking fears the two countries could return to a collision course that they had been on before launching diplomacy last year. Biegun's trip led to speculation he might try to salvage negotiations by reaching out to North Korea, or by publicly sending a message. North Korea has vowed to take an unspecified "new path" if the United States fails to address its demands before the end of the year. On Thursday, it said Washington had "nothing to offer" even if talks were to reopen, and the United States warned against any resumption of "unfortunate ill-advised behaviour". "In any case, Biegun would try to give an impression that they won't be manipulated by the North Koreans, while making clear that they want to keep talking," a diplomatic source in Seoul said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Trump met three times since last year to negotiate an end to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, but there has been scant progress, with working-level talks in Stockholm led by Biegun in October breaking down. US officials came to that meeting seeking a "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation," and a moratorium on weapons tests as a first step, while a North Korean negotiator accused them of sticking to their "old viewpoint and attitude."

US envoy to visit Seoul as deadline looms for stalled North Korea talks

Satellite imagery captured before and after North Korea conducted what it called a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-has-everything-to-lose-donald-trump-after-north-koreas-significant-test-267034">"very important" test</a> at its missile launch site suggested it had tested a rocket engine, experts said on Monday.

It was the latest of a series of weapons tests and statements from Pyongyang, as its year-end deadline for Washington to soften its stance in denuclearisation talks draws near.

State news agency KCNA said on Sunday the North had carried out the test at its Sohae satellite launching station, a rocket-testing ground that US and South Korean officials once said Pyongyang had promised to shut down.

KCNA said the test results would help the North's strategic position, without elaborating on what was tried out, but the site has previously been used to send rockets and satellites into space.

Commercial satellite images taken on Saturday by Planet Labs showed vehicles and equipment likely to be used in a rocket engine experiment, while those captured on Sunday morning had signs of a conducted test, analyst Jeffrey Lewis said.

"Vehicles and objects appear on December 7 to conduct the test," said Lewis, the director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California.

"They are mostly gone on December 8, but the ground appears to have been disturbed by the exhaust from the test."

Asked on Monday if it had been an engine test, a spokeswoman of Seoul's defence ministry declined to confirm the suggestion, saying site monitoring and detailed analysis were underway with US intelligence authorities.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned he may take a "new path" if the United States fails to address his demands.

He did not say what the path would be, but observers have said it might include the launch of a space satellite, which would help North Korea demonstrate progress in its rocket capabilities without returning to overt military provocations, such as firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Some South Korean experts said North Korea may have tested a solid-fuel rocket engine, which could allow it to field ICBMs that are easier to hide and faster to deploy.

"They may well have tried to see the thrust and duration of a solid-propellant rocket engine for ICBMs," a diplomatic source in Seoul told Reuters.

"That's effectively what they can do on the ground at this point without firing anything into the air."

Kim Dong-yub, a former South Korean Navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam University in Seoul, also said North Korea could have tested a solid-fuel engine as it has been striving to shift from liquid fuel.

North Korea appears to have used Soviet-era liquid propellants in all its ICBM or satellite launches in recent years while developing solid-fuel missiles to be fired from a submarine, officials and analysts say.

In March 2016, state media said Kim oversaw a "successful" test of a high-power solid-fuel rocket engine "designed and manufactured in the Korean style".

Kim also said the North's rocket industry had "firmly transitioned" to solid fuel from liquid propellants, while inspecting a newly developed missile based on a submarine-launched ballistic missile in February 2017.

"It could be solid fuel or they might have developed a new engine," said Jeong Han-beom, director of the Graduate School of National Security at Korea National Defense University.

"In any case, it's meant to improve their capabilities for ICBMs, which need to be tested several times, while sending a message to Washington that we might go back to those old days of military confrontation if negotiations fail."

Satellite imagery captured before and after North Korea conducted what it called a "very important" test at its missile launch site suggested it had tested a rocket engine, experts said on Monday.

Satellite imagery captured before and after North Korea conducted what it called a "very important" test at its missile launch site suggested it had tested a rocket engine, experts said on Monday. It was the latest of a series of weapons tests and statements from Pyongyang, as its year-end deadline for Washington to soften its stance in denuclearisation talks draws near. State news agency KCNA said on Sunday the North had carried out the test at its Sohae satellite launching station, a rocket-testing ground that US and South Korean officials once said Pyongyang had promised to shut down. KCNA said the test results would help the North's strategic position, without elaborating on what was tried out, but the site has previously been used to send rockets and satellites into space. Commercial satellite images taken on Saturday by Planet Labs showed vehicles and equipment likely to be used in a rocket engine experiment, while those captured on Sunday morning had signs of a conducted test, analyst Jeffrey Lewis said. "Vehicles and objects appear on December 7 to conduct the test," said Lewis, the director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California. "They are mostly gone on December 8, but the ground appears to have been disturbed by the exhaust from the test." Asked on Monday if it had been an engine test, a spokeswoman of Seoul's defence ministry declined to confirm the suggestion, saying site monitoring and detailed analysis were underway with US intelligence authorities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned he may take a "new path" if the United States fails to address his demands. He did not say what the path would be, but observers have said it might include the launch of a space satellite, which would help North Korea demonstrate progress in its rocket capabilities without returning to overt military provocations, such as firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Some South Korean experts said North Korea may have tested a solid-fuel rocket engine, which could allow it to field ICBMs that are easier to hide and faster to deploy. "They may well have tried to see the thrust and duration of a solid-propellant rocket engine for ICBMs," a diplomatic source in Seoul told Reuters. "That's effectively what they can do on the ground at this point without firing anything into the air." Kim Dong-yub, a former South Korean Navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam University in Seoul, also said North Korea could have tested a solid-fuel engine as it has been striving to shift from liquid fuel. North Korea appears to have used Soviet-era liquid propellants in all its ICBM or satellite launches in recent years while developing solid-fuel missiles to be fired from a submarine, officials and analysts say. In March 2016, state media said Kim oversaw a "successful" test of a high-power solid-fuel rocket engine "designed and manufactured in the Korean style". Kim also said the North's rocket industry had "firmly transitioned" to solid fuel from liquid propellants, while inspecting a newly developed missile based on a submarine-launched ballistic missile in February 2017. "It could be solid fuel or they might have developed a new engine," said Jeong Han-beom, director of the Graduate School of National Security at Korea National Defense University. "In any case, it's meant to improve their capabilities for ICBMs, which need to be tested several times, while sending a message to Washington that we might go back to those old days of military confrontation if negotiations fail."

Satellite images show North Korea tried out rocket engine in 'very important' test: Report

Breaking a month-long lull in missile tests, North Korea fired two short range projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday in what appeared to be the latest try out of its new multiple rocket launchers, South Korea's military said.

Breaking a month-long lull in missile tests, North Korea fired two short range projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday in what appeared to be the latest try out of its new multiple rocket launchers, South Korea's military said. The test-firing came as the clock ticks down on the year-end deadline that Pyongyang had given the United States to show flexibility in their stalled denuclearisation talks. It also coincided with the US Thanksgiving holiday and took place one day before the second anniversary of the North's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the US mainland. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North fired the two projectiles into the sea from launchers in the eastern coastal town of Yonpo at around 5 p.m. (0800 GMT). The rockets travelled up to 380 km (236 miles) and reached an altitude of 97 km (60 miles), the JCS said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the launch was a threat not only to Japan but the region and beyond, though his defence ministry said the projectiles did not enter Japanese airspace or its Exclusive Economic Zone. "We will remain in close contact with the United States, South Korea and the international community to monitor the situation," Abe told reporters. The launch is the first since October 31, when the North tested what it called super-large multiple rocket launchers, which had also been used in tests conducted in August and September that were overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. South Korea's military expressed "strong regret" and urged the North to stop stoking military tension. "Such acts by North Korea are unhelpful for efforts to ease tension on the Korean peninsula," Jeon Dong-jin, director of operations at the JCS, told a news briefing. Looming deadline Kim has set an end-year deadline for the talks with Washington, but negotiations have been at an impasse after a day-long working level meeting on Oct. 5 ended without progress. North Korea has been demanding the lifting of sanctions that are hobbling its economy, and Kim set the deadline for Washington to show more flexibility in April, raising concerns he could resume nuclear and long-range missile testing suspended since 2017. US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said last week the year-end deadline was an artificial one, but could mean a return to "provocative" steps that preceded the past two years of diplomacy. US President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, has repeatedly pointed to Kim's suspension of long-range missile and nuclear bomb tests as a major achievement of his engagement with North Korea. Analysts believe Pyongyang is trying to send a Thanksgiving reminder to the United States by demonstrating progress in weapons development on the anniversary of the 2017 ICBM test. "Today's launch fit a North Korean pattern of escalating pressure on Washington and Seoul ahead of Kim Jong-un's year-end deadline," said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. North Korean officials have warned the United States to abandon its hostile policy toward the North or Pyongyang would walk away from the talks. The North has also demanded the abandonment of joint military drills by the United States and South Korea, which it calls preparations for an invasion. The test comes a week after South Korea pulled back from a decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, an important element of security cooperation between the key U.S. allies in the region. A senior Trump administration official said on Thursday that it was aware of reports of a North Korean missile launch. "We are continuing to monitor the situation and consulting closely with our allies in the region," the official said. A US State Department official said, "We call on North Korea to avoid provocations, abide by obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and return to sustained and substantive negotiations to do its part to achieve complete denuclearization‎." The Pentagon referred Reuters to the US Forces Korea for comment.

North Korea test fires rockets in Thanksgiving reminder of year-end deadline for US

North Korea said on Thursday it has been offered a fresh meeting with the United States but is uninterested in more talks aimed at "appeasing us" ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in their negotiations.

Kim Myong Gil, the North's nuclear negotiator, said in a report carried by state media that Stephen Biegun, his US counterpart who jointly led last month's failed denuclearisation talks in Stockholm, had offered through a third country to meet again.

Kim and Biegun met last month in the Swedish capital for the first time since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed in June to re-open negotiations that have been stalled since a failed summit in Vietnam in February.

But the meeting fell apart, with Kim saying the US side failed to present a new approach.

"If the negotiated solution of issues is possible, we are ready to meet with the US at any place and any time," Kim Myong Gil said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

But he called Biegun's proposal a "sinister aim of appeasing us in a bid to pass with ease" Pyongyang's year-end deadline. "We have no willingness to have such negotiations."

North Korea has been seeking a lifting of punishing sanctions, but the United States has insisted Kim Jong Un must dismantle his nuclear weapons programme first.

Joint drills

The North Korean statement came after General Mark Milley, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, reaffirmed that the United States was ready to use the "full range" of its capabilities to defend South Korea from any attack.

Senior US defence officials are gathering in Seoul for annual meetings as the two countries face intensifying threats from North Korea to stop joint military drills.

The United States is also seeking a greater financial contribution from South Korea for hosting American troops, while urging Seoul to revoke its decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan known as GSOMIA, which Washington fears would undermine trilateral cooperation.

Milley met his South Korean counterpart General Park Han-ki for the annual Military Committee Meeting (MCM) on Thursday.

Both sides discussed ways to maintain solid defence posture and a planned transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea, a joint statement said, even as they have scaled back joint exercises to expedite negotiations with North Korea.

Milley reiterated the "continued commitment to providing extended deterrence", the statement said.

"He affirmed that the United States remains prepared to respond to any attack on the Korean Peninsula, using the full range of U.S. military capabilities."

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was arriving in Seoul later on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo for the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on Friday.

Esper said on Wednesday he was open to changes in US military activity in South Korea if it helped diplomats trying to jump-start stalled talks with North Korea.

Pyongyang has derided the US-South Korea exercises as hostile, even in the current reduced form. On Wednesday, it threatened to retaliate if the allies go ahead with scheduled drills in a rare statement from the State Affairs Commission, a top governing body chaired by leader Kim Jong Un.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at South Korea's Sejong Institute think-tank, said the North's statement appeared to be aimed at justifying future North Korean military actions.

Trilateral cooperation

Milley has hinted at raising the troop cost-sharing and Japan issues, though the joint statement did not address them directly.

Trump's insistence Seoul take on a greater share of the cost of the 28,500-strong US military presence as deterrence against North Korea has rattled South Korea. It could also set a precedent for upcoming US negotiations on defence cost-sharing with other allies.

A South Korean lawmaker said last week that US officials demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times what Seoul agreed to pay this year under a one-year deal.

Washington has also been pressing Seoul to reconsider its decision to scrap the GSOMIA intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The pact, which South Korea decided not to renew, expires on November 23.

Esper said on Wednesday that GSOMIA "must be maintained" for cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan against any "North Korean bad behaviour".

Seoul's Defence Ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said on Thursday it would reexamine GSOMIA "if Japan withdraws its unjust retaliatory measures and friendly relations between the two countries recover".

Relations have plunged after South Korea's top court last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate some wartime forced labourers, and Japan curbed exports of key industrial materials to South Korea in July.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Alex Richa

North Korea said on Thursday it has been offered a fresh meeting with the United States but is uninterested in more talks aimed at "appeasing us" ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in their negotiations.

North Korea said on Thursday it has been offered a fresh meeting with the United States but is uninterested in more talks aimed at "appeasing us" ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in their negotiations. Kim Myong Gil, the North's nuclear negotiator, said in a report carried by state media that Stephen Biegun, his US counterpart who jointly led last month's failed denuclearisation talks in Stockholm, had offered through a third country to meet again. Kim and Biegun met last month in the Swedish capital for the first time since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed in June to re-open negotiations that have been stalled since a failed summit in Vietnam in February. But the meeting fell apart, with Kim saying the US side failed to present a new approach. "If the negotiated solution of issues is possible, we are ready to meet with the US at any place and any time," Kim Myong Gil said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. But he called Biegun's proposal a "sinister aim of appeasing us in a bid to pass with ease" Pyongyang's year-end deadline. "We have no willingness to have such negotiations." North Korea has been seeking a lifting of punishing sanctions, but the United States has insisted Kim Jong Un must dismantle his nuclear weapons programme first. Joint drills The North Korean statement came after General Mark Milley, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, reaffirmed that the United States was ready to use the "full range" of its capabilities to defend South Korea from any attack. Senior US defence officials are gathering in Seoul for annual meetings as the two countries face intensifying threats from North Korea to stop joint military drills. The United States is also seeking a greater financial contribution from South Korea for hosting American troops, while urging Seoul to revoke its decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan known as GSOMIA, which Washington fears would undermine trilateral cooperation. Milley met his South Korean counterpart General Park Han-ki for the annual Military Committee Meeting (MCM) on Thursday. Both sides discussed ways to maintain solid defence posture and a planned transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea, a joint statement said, even as they have scaled back joint exercises to expedite negotiations with North Korea. Milley reiterated the "continued commitment to providing extended deterrence", the statement said. "He affirmed that the United States remains prepared to respond to any attack on the Korean Peninsula, using the full range of U.S. military capabilities." US Defense Secretary Mark Esper was arriving in Seoul later on Thursday, ahead of a meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo for the annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on Friday. Esper said on Wednesday he was open to changes in US military activity in South Korea if it helped diplomats trying to jump-start stalled talks with North Korea. Pyongyang has derided the US-South Korea exercises as hostile, even in the current reduced form. On Wednesday, it threatened to retaliate if the allies go ahead with scheduled drills in a rare statement from the State Affairs Commission, a top governing body chaired by leader Kim Jong Un. Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at South Korea's Sejong Institute think-tank, said the North's statement appeared to be aimed at justifying future North Korean military actions. Trilateral cooperation Milley has hinted at raising the troop cost-sharing and Japan issues, though the joint statement did not address them directly. Trump's insistence Seoul take on a greater share of the cost of the 28,500-strong US military presence as deterrence against North Korea has rattled South Korea. It could also set a precedent for upcoming US negotiations on defence cost-sharing with other allies. A South Korean lawmaker said last week that US officials demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times what Seoul agreed to pay this year under a one-year deal. Washington has also been pressing Seoul to reconsider its decision to scrap the GSOMIA intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The pact, which South Korea decided not to renew, expires on November 23. Esper said on Wednesday that GSOMIA "must be maintained" for cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan against any "North Korean bad behaviour". Seoul's Defence Ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said on Thursday it would reexamine GSOMIA "if Japan withdraws its unjust retaliatory measures and friendly relations between the two countries recover". Relations have plunged after South Korea's top court last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate some wartime forced labourers, and Japan curbed exports of key industrial materials to South Korea in July. (Reporting by Joyce Lee and Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Alex Richa

North Korea rebuffs US offer of December talks

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.

South Korea was taking North Korea's deadline "very seriously", the adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters, at a time when efforts to improve inter-Korean relations have stalled.

Chung made the remarks at a news conference to mark South Korean President Moon Jae-in's halfway point of his five-year term.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility, and North Korean officials have warned the United States not to ignore that date.

The window of opportunity for progress in dialogue with the United States was getting smaller, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Friday, adding that Pyongyang expects reciprocal steps from Washington by the end of the year.

South Korea has set up "various" contingency plans if the deadline passes without any positive outcome, Chung said, without elaborating.

"Only if talks between high-rank officials happen and lead to substantial progress, the third North Korea-United States summit is possible," he said.

"As you know, the Northside has shown the year-end deadline, considering that position of the North Korean side, we are closely coordinating with the U.S. side for North Korea and the United States to find clues."

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches. South Korea was taking North Korea's deadline "very seriously", the adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters, at a time when efforts to improve inter-Korean relations have stalled. Chung made the remarks at a news conference to mark South Korean President Moon Jae-in's halfway point of his five-year term. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility, and North Korean officials have warned the United States not to ignore that date. The window of opportunity for progress in dialogue with the United States was getting smaller, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Friday, adding that Pyongyang expects reciprocal steps from Washington by the end of the year. South Korea has set up "various" contingency plans if the deadline passes without any positive outcome, Chung said, without elaborating. "Only if talks between high-rank officials happen and lead to substantial progress, the third North Korea-United States summit is possible," he said. "As you know, the Northside has shown the year-end deadline, considering that position of the North Korean side, we are closely coordinating with the U.S. side for North Korea and the United States to find clues."

United States 'very actively' asking North Korea to return to talks: South Korea

North Korea and the United States walked away on Saturday with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-united-states-officials-to-resume-nuclear-talks-after-latest-missile-test-253916">opposing assessments of nuclear talks</a> in Sweden, which Pyongyang said broke down but Washington called "good discussions."

The United States accepted host Sweden's invitation to resume talks in two weeks' time, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

The discussions followed months of stalemate after a February meeting between the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-seeks-meeting-with-north-koreas-kim-despite-missile-launch-253658">North's leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump</a>, and came after Pyongyang's defiant test of a sea-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday.

"The negotiations have not fulfilled our expectations and finally broke up... without any outcome. (It) is totally due to the fact that the US would not give up their old... attitude," the nuclear-armed North's leading negotiator Kim Myong Gil told reporters in Stockholm.

"The US raised expectations and offered suggestions like flexible approach, new methods and creative solutions but they have disappointed us greatly, and dampened our enthusiasm for negotiations by bringing nothing to the negotiation table," Kim Myong Gil said.

He added that North Korea stood "at the crossroads of dialogue or confrontation".

Kim Myong Gil's US counterpart was Stephen Biegun, Trump's special envoy.

Ortagus said in a statement that "the early comments from the DPRK delegation do not reflect the content or the spirit of today's eight-and-a-half-hour discussion."

"The US brought creative ideas and had good discussions with its DPRK counterparts," she said, using the North's formal acronym.

Ortagus said the United States "previewed a number of new initiatives" that would allow progress on the statement reached in Singapore at the first Trump-Kim summit last year.

The two leaders adopted a vaguely worded document on the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" but little progress has since been made on dismantling the North's nuclear programme.

Dialogue 'needed'

The two sides met at a heavily guarded venue on an island off Stockholm, several hundred metres (yards) from the North Korean embassy, an AFP correspondent said.

As the meeting got underway, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted: "I am encouraged that US and (North Korean) working level delegations are currently in Sweden to hold talks".

Dialogue, she said, was "needed to reach denuclearisation and peaceful solution".

Similar-level talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament were held in Stockholm in March 2018 and then in January this year.

North Korea claimed to have entered a new phase in its defence capability with Wednesday's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile -- the most provocative since Pyongyang began dialogue with Washington in 2018.

North Korea frequently couples diplomatic overtures with military moves as a way of maintaining pressure on negotiating partners, analysts say, and may believe this weapons system gives it added leverage.

The Pentagon said Thursday the missile seems to have been launched from a "sea-based platform" and not a submarine.

Trump has said he sees no problem with a string of short-range missile tests conducted previously by North Korea, while insisting his personal ties with the North's leader remain good.

Heavy sanctions

The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold closed-door talks early next week on the latest test, diplomats said.

Those talks were requested by Britain, France and Germany, as the European powers push for the world body to keep up pressure on Pyongyang which is under heavy US and UN sanctions over its weapons program.

North Korea is banned from ballistic missile launches by Security Council resolutions.

Since the US-North Korea talks began, Russia and China have been calling for the UN to start lifting sanctions so as to create momentum towards the North's denuclearisation. But the United States has refused.

"The United States and the DPRK will not overcome a legacy of 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean Peninsula through the course of a single Saturday," Ortagus said.

"These are weighty issues, and they require a strong commitment by both countries. The United States has that commitment."

North Korea and the United States walked away on Saturday with opposing assessments of nuclear talks in Sweden, which Pyongyang said broke down but Washington called "good discussions.

North Korea and the United States walked away on Saturday with opposing assessments of nuclear talks in Sweden, which Pyongyang said broke down but Washington called "good discussions." The United States accepted host Sweden's invitation to resume talks in two weeks' time, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. The discussions followed months of stalemate after a February meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump, and came after Pyongyang's defiant test of a sea-launched ballistic missile on Wednesday. "The negotiations have not fulfilled our expectations and finally broke up... without any outcome. (It) is totally due to the fact that the US would not give up their old... attitude," the nuclear-armed North's leading negotiator Kim Myong Gil told reporters in Stockholm. "The US raised expectations and offered suggestions like flexible approach, new methods and creative solutions but they have disappointed us greatly, and dampened our enthusiasm for negotiations by bringing nothing to the negotiation table," Kim Myong Gil said. He added that North Korea stood "at the crossroads of dialogue or confrontation". Kim Myong Gil's US counterpart was Stephen Biegun, Trump's special envoy. Ortagus said in a statement that "the early comments from the DPRK delegation do not reflect the content or the spirit of today's eight-and-a-half-hour discussion." "The US brought creative ideas and had good discussions with its DPRK counterparts," she said, using the North's formal acronym. Ortagus said the United States "previewed a number of new initiatives" that would allow progress on the statement reached in Singapore at the first Trump-Kim summit last year. The two leaders adopted a vaguely worded document on the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" but little progress has since been made on dismantling the North's nuclear programme. Dialogue 'needed' The two sides met at a heavily guarded venue on an island off Stockholm, several hundred metres (yards) from the North Korean embassy, an AFP correspondent said. As the meeting got underway, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde tweeted: "I am encouraged that US and (North Korean) working level delegations are currently in Sweden to hold talks". Dialogue, she said, was "needed to reach denuclearisation and peaceful solution". Similar-level talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament were held in Stockholm in March 2018 and then in January this year. North Korea claimed to have entered a new phase in its defence capability with Wednesday's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile -- the most provocative since Pyongyang began dialogue with Washington in 2018. North Korea frequently couples diplomatic overtures with military moves as a way of maintaining pressure on negotiating partners, analysts say, and may believe this weapons system gives it added leverage. The Pentagon said Thursday the missile seems to have been launched from a "sea-based platform" and not a submarine. Trump has said he sees no problem with a string of short-range missile tests conducted previously by North Korea, while insisting his personal ties with the North's leader remain good. Heavy sanctions The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold closed-door talks early next week on the latest test, diplomats said. Those talks were requested by Britain, France and Germany, as the European powers push for the world body to keep up pressure on Pyongyang which is under heavy US and UN sanctions over its weapons program. North Korea is banned from ballistic missile launches by Security Council resolutions. Since the US-North Korea talks began, Russia and China have been calling for the UN to start lifting sanctions so as to create momentum towards the North's denuclearisation. But the United States has refused. "The United States and the DPRK will not overcome a legacy of 70 years of war and hostility on the Korean Peninsula through the course of a single Saturday," Ortagus said. "These are weighty issues, and they require a strong commitment by both countries. The United States has that commitment."

'US would not give up old attitude,' says North Korea as nuclear talks end in contrasting assessments

North Korea fired two missiles into the sea on Wednesday, a day after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-to-hold-nuclear-talks-with-us-on-october-5-253070">Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks</a> later this week.

One of the projectiles fell into waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone, Tokyo said, and although the type of weapon was not clear, previous tests have been identified as short-range ballistic missiles.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from Wonsan into the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

"Our military is monitoring the situation for additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," they said in a statement, without providing further details.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-promotes-china-as-bigger-threat-than-nuclear-armed-north-korea-252313">Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a> said Tokyo would hold a meeting of the National Security Council to decide how to respond to the firing.

"The launching of ballistic missiles violates UN Security Council resolutions and we strongly protest and strongly condemn it," Abe told reporters.&nbsp;

The launch came a day after the North's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said Pyongyang had agreed to hold working-level talks with Washington later this week.

The two sides will have "preliminary contact" on Friday and hold negotiations the following day, Choe said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus later confirmed the talks, which she said would happen "within the next week".

"It seems North Korea wants to make its negotiating position quite clear before talks even begin," Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington said after Wednesday's launch.

"Pyongyang seems set to push Washington to back off from past demands of full denuclearisation for what are only promises of sanctions relief," he added.

Watch: North Korea fires unidentified projectiles

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Deadlocked talks

It is not the first time the North has followed up an offer of talks with a weapons test.

Pyongyang tested what it called a "super-large" rocket launcher last month just hours after Choe released a statement saying that the North was willing to resume working-level talks with Washington.

Negotiations between the two have been deadlocked since a second summit between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in February ended without a deal.

The two agreed to restart dialogue during an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarised Zone dividing the two Koreas in June, but the North's anger at a US refusal to cancel joint military deals with South Korea put the process on hold.

Pyongyang also carried out several weapons tests since the meeting that have been downplayed by Trump, who dismissed them as "small" and insisted his personal ties with Kim remained good.

Relations thawed last month after Trump fired his hawkish national security advisor John Bolton, who Pyongyang had repeatedly denounced as a warmonger.

North Korea's chief negotiator responded positively to Trump's suggestion that the two sides try a "new method" of approaching their discussions.

Trump had criticised Bolton's suggestion of the "Libyan model" for North Korea, a reference to a denuclearisation deal with the African nation's former dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- who was killed after being deposed in 2011.

North Korea fired two missiles into the sea on Wednesday, a day after Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks later this week.

North Korea fired two missiles into the sea on Wednesday, a day after Washington and Pyongyang announced they would resume stalled nuclear talks later this week. One of the projectiles fell into waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone, Tokyo said, and although the type of weapon was not clear, previous tests have been identified as short-range ballistic missiles. The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired from Wonsan into the East Sea (Sea of Japan). "Our military is monitoring the situation for additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," they said in a statement, without providing further details. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo would hold a meeting of the National Security Council to decide how to respond to the firing. "The launching of ballistic missiles violates UN Security Council resolutions and we strongly protest and strongly condemn it," Abe told reporters. The launch came a day after the North's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said Pyongyang had agreed to hold working-level talks with Washington later this week. The two sides will have "preliminary contact" on Friday and hold negotiations the following day, Choe said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus later confirmed the talks, which she said would happen "within the next week". "It seems North Korea wants to make its negotiating position quite clear before talks even begin," Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington said after Wednesday's launch. "Pyongyang seems set to push Washington to back off from past demands of full denuclearisation for what are only promises of sanctions relief," he added. Watch: North Korea fires unidentified projectiles × Deadlocked talks It is not the first time the North has followed up an offer of talks with a weapons test. Pyongyang tested what it called a "super-large" rocket launcher last month just hours after Choe released a statement saying that the North was willing to resume working-level talks with Washington. Negotiations between the two have been deadlocked since a second summit between the North's leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in February ended without a deal. The two agreed to restart dialogue during an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarised Zone dividing the two Koreas in June, but the North's anger at a US refusal to cancel joint military deals with South Korea put the process on hold. Pyongyang also carried out several weapons tests since the meeting that have been downplayed by Trump, who dismissed them as "small" and insisted his personal ties with Kim remained good. Relations thawed last month after Trump fired his hawkish national security advisor John Bolton, who Pyongyang had repeatedly denounced as a warmonger. North Korea's chief negotiator responded positively to Trump's suggestion that the two sides try a "new method" of approaching their discussions. Trump had criticised Bolton's suggestion of the "Libyan model" for North Korea, a reference to a denuclearisation deal with the African nation's former dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- who was killed after being deposed in 2011.

North Korea launches missiles ahead of nuclear talks

North Korea denied on Sunday allegations that it had obtained $2 billion through cyberattacks on banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, and accused the United States for spreading rumours.

North Korea denied on Sunday allegations that it had obtained $2 billion through cyberattacks on banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, and accused the United States for spreading rumours. A United Nations report seen by Reuters last month said North Korea had used "widespread and increasingly sophisticated" cyberattacks to steal from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, amassing $2 billion which it used to fund weapons of mass destruction programmes. "The United States and other hostile forces are now spreading ill-hearted rumours," North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency reported, citing a statement from the spokesperson for the National Coordination Committee of the DPRK for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism. "Such a fabrication by the hostile forces is nothing but a sort of a nasty game aimed at tarnishing the image of our Republic and finding justification for sanctions and pressure campaign against the DPRK," the statement said. Washington has made scant progress towards its goal of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme, despite three meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea's vice foreign minister said on Saturday that hopes for talks with Washington were fading, and criticised Mike Pompeo's recent comments about "North Korea's rogue behaviour". Pyongyang has been blamed in recent years for a series of online attacks, mostly on financial networks, in the United States, South Korea and over a dozen other countries, as experts say such cyber activities generate hard currency for the regime. The crux of the allegations against North Korea is its connection to a hacking group called Lazarus that is linked to $81 million cyber heist at the Bangladesh central bank in 2016 and a 2014 attack on Sony's Hollywood studio.

North Korea denies it amassed $2 billion through cyberattacks on banks

North Korea Saturday lashed out at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/focused-on-getting-two-canadians-released-from-china-pompeo-to-trudeau-244884">US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo</a> over his comments on Pyongyang's "rogue behaviour" and warned its expectations for nuclear talks with Washington are "gradually disappearing".

Pyongyang's angry words come as working-level talks with Washington remain gridlocked, despite an agreement in June between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-pompeo-remark-would-make-talks-with-us-more-difficult-246778">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> and President Donald Trump to kickstart the process.

Instead, no progress has been made in recent weeks, as the reclusive state launched a series of weapons tests in protest at joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.

"Our expectations of dialogue with the US are gradually disappearing and we are being pushed to re-examine all the measures we have taken so far," said Choe Son Hui, the North's vice foreign minister, in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.&nbsp;

Choe took aim at remarks made earlier this week by Pompeo who described North Korea's actions as "rogue behaviour" that could not be ignored.&nbsp;

Such language was improper, irritating and insulting, Choe said, warning that the US should not to put "our patience to the test if it doesn't want to have bitter regrets afterwards".

The North's blistering criticism of the top US diplomat comes a week after it called him a "diehard toxin" and said it was "sceptical" about whether it can negotiate with him.

Kim and Trump adopted a vague-worded statement on the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" at their first encounter in Singapore in June last year but little progress has since been made on discarding the North’s weapons programmes.

North Korea Saturday lashed out at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his comments on Pyongyang's "rogue behaviour" and warned its expectations for nuclear talks with Washington are "gradually disappearing".

North Korea Saturday lashed out at US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his comments on Pyongyang's "rogue behaviour" and warned its expectations for nuclear talks with Washington are "gradually disappearing". Pyongyang's angry words come as working-level talks with Washington remain gridlocked, despite an agreement in June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump to kickstart the process. Instead, no progress has been made in recent weeks, as the reclusive state launched a series of weapons tests in protest at joint military exercises between the US and South Korea. "Our expectations of dialogue with the US are gradually disappearing and we are being pushed to re-examine all the measures we have taken so far," said Choe Son Hui, the North's vice foreign minister, in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Choe took aim at remarks made earlier this week by Pompeo who described North Korea's actions as "rogue behaviour" that could not be ignored. Such language was improper, irritating and insulting, Choe said, warning that the US should not to put "our patience to the test if it doesn't want to have bitter regrets afterwards". The North's blistering criticism of the top US diplomat comes a week after it called him a "diehard toxin" and said it was "sceptical" about whether it can negotiate with him. Kim and Trump adopted a vague-worded statement on the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" at their first encounter in Singapore in June last year but little progress has since been made on discarding the North’s weapons programmes.

North Korea hits out at Mike Pompeo, warns hopes for US talks 'disappearing'

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said on Friday Pyongyang is ready for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, warning Washington that continuing with sanctions would be a miscalculation, according to state media KCNA.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said on Friday Pyongyang is ready for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, warning Washington that continuing with sanctions would be a miscalculation, according to state media KCNA. Working-level talks between the United States and North Korea have yet to restart since stalling after the failed second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February. Trump and Kim met again in June at the inter-Korean border and agreed to reopen negotiations, but that has not happened as yet. "If the US is still dreaming of achieving everything with sanctions, we must either let it dream on or shatter that dream," Ri said. "We are prepared for both dialogue and confrontation. If the U.S. tries to confront us with sanctions and not abandon its confrontational posture, it would be a miscalculation." Ri also accused U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of casting "dark shadows" over US-North Korea talks, claiming that Pompeo was more interested in his own political ambitions than in current U.S. foreign policy. The remarks on KCNA were prompted by Pompeo's comments in a media interview this week saying if North Korea doesn't denuclearise, the U.S. will maintain the strongest sanctions in history while convincing North Korea that denuclearisation is the right path, Ri said. US envoy Stephen Biegun, who leads working-level talks with North Korea, arrived in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss the talks. Denuclearisation talks were expected to be reopened soon, South Korea's deputy national security adviser Kim Hyun-chong said, giving his upbeat assessment after meeting Biegun on Thursday.

North Korea says ready for dialogue or confrontation with US

A day after saying that he received a "very beautiful letter" from&nbsp;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump on Saturday revealed the content of the letter on Twitter.&nbsp;

Trump said that much of the letter complained about the ''ridiculous'' and ''expensive exercises'' with South Korea and added, that a nuclear fee North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world.

In a letter to me sent by Kim Jong Un, he stated, very nicely, that he would like to meet and start negotiations as soon as the joint U.S./South Korea joint exercise are (Sic) over, said Trump in a tweet.&nbsp;

It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ''ridiculous and expensive'' exercises, Trump added about the letter.&nbsp;

''It was also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!'' Trump said.

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....also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1160158592483418114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump&nbsp;said on Friday he has received a "very beautiful letter" on Thursday from&nbsp;&nbsp;North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and added that he could have&nbsp;another meeting with him.

Trump&nbsp;and Kim have met three times since last year to discuss ways to resolve a crisis over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, but progress has been scant on Washington's aim of getting the North Korea leader to give up his weapons.

A summit between&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Kim in Hanoi in February collapsed over a failure to narrow differences over US demands for North Korea to give up all of its nuclear weapons and Pyongyang's demands for relief from punishing sanctions.

A day after saying that he received a "very beautiful letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump on Saturday revealed the content of the letter on Twitter.

A day after saying that he received a "very beautiful letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump on Saturday revealed the content of the letter on Twitter. Trump said that much of the letter complained about the ''ridiculous'' and ''expensive exercises'' with South Korea and added, that a nuclear fee North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world. In a letter to me sent by Kim Jong Un, he stated, very nicely, that he would like to meet and start negotiations as soon as the joint U.S./South Korea joint exercise are (Sic) over, said Trump in a tweet. It was a long letter, much of it complaining about the ''ridiculous and expensive'' exercises, Trump added about the letter. ''It was also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world!'' Trump said. ....also a small apology for testing the short range missiles, and that this testing would stop when the exercises end. I look forward to seeing Kim Jong Un in the not too distant future! A nuclear free North Korea will lead to one of the most successful countries in the world! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2019 × Trump said on Friday he has received a "very beautiful letter" on Thursday from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and added that he could have another meeting with him. Trump and Kim have met three times since last year to discuss ways to resolve a crisis over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, but progress has been scant on Washington's aim of getting the North Korea leader to give up his weapons. A summit between Trump and Kim in Hanoi in February collapsed over a failure to narrow differences over US demands for North Korea to give up all of its nuclear weapons and Pyongyang's demands for relief from punishing sanctions.

Look forward to seeing Kim in not too distant future, tweets Trump a day after receiving 'beautiful letter'

The United States said Tuesday it hoped to hold denuclearisation talks with North Korea, despite a warning from Pyongyang that US-South Korean military exercises could affect their planned resumption.&nbsp;

The North had earlier Tuesday hinted that it could even reconsider its moratorium on nuclear testing over next month's drills, which have been held for years but were scaled down to facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang.

It was the first statement from the North on the talks since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to a resumption of dialogue at an impromptu&nbsp;meeting in the Demilitarized Zone in June, following months of deadlock.

Responding to the North's statement, the State Department said it remained upbeat over commitments made by Kim and Trump at a February summit in Vietnam and then during Trump's dramatic walk into North Korea on June 30.

"From our perspective, we would hope that no one would try to block, in their government or our government, the ability for President Trump and Chairman Kim to make progress on the commitments they made to each other in Vietnam," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters.

"We look forward, of course, to resuming those negotiations and we hope to talk, always, so we can advance progress on these commitments," Ortagus said.

The joint drills were reduced in scope after Trump's historic first summit with Kim in Singapore last year.

But an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson described the drills as "clearly a breach" of a joint statement signed by the leaders in Singapore and hinted that Pyongyang may resume weapons tests in response.

"If the military exercise really goes ahead, it would affect the DPRK-US working-level talks," the official said in comments carried by state news agency KCNA, using the official acronym for North Korea.

Pyongyang's moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests was a commitment aimed at improving bilateral relations and "not a legal document inscribed on a paper," the official said.

"With the US unilaterally reneging on its commitments, we are gradually losing our justifications to follow through on the commitments we made with the US as well."

Trump and Kim's unexpected June meeting took place as negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington were at a deadlock, following a rocky negotiation process brokered by Seoul after a thaw in tensions in early 2018.

During the encounter, Trump became the first US president to set foot on the country's soil and the pair agreed to resume working-level talks to lay the groundwork for a future deal.

'Very provocative' drills&nbsp;

There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have always infuriated the North -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as rehearsals for invasion.

But following the Singapore summit, Trump announced the suspension of what he called Washington's "very provocative" joint military exercises with South Korea.

A smaller-scale version of the exercises was last held in March, with more scheduled for August.

Washington has previously insisted on North Korea's complete denuclearisation as a condition for lifting punishing US sanctions.

At the Singapore summit, the two adopted a vaguely worded statement on "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" and agreed to "establish new US-DPRK relations".

But the failure to reach an agreement over sanctions relief and what the North was willing to give in return led to the collapse of the leaders' second summit in February in Hanoi.

Tensions were raised in May, during the standstill in negotiations between Trump and Kim, when North Korea fired short-range missiles for the first time since November 2017.

The United States said Tuesday it hoped to hold denuclearisation talks with North Korea, despite a warning from Pyongyang that US-South Korean military exercises could affect their planned resumption.

The United States said Tuesday it hoped to hold denuclearisation talks with North Korea, despite a warning from Pyongyang that US-South Korean military exercises could affect their planned resumption. The North had earlier Tuesday hinted that it could even reconsider its moratorium on nuclear testing over next month's drills, which have been held for years but were scaled down to facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang. It was the first statement from the North on the talks since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to a resumption of dialogue at an impromptu meeting in the Demilitarized Zone in June, following months of deadlock. Responding to the North's statement, the State Department said it remained upbeat over commitments made by Kim and Trump at a February summit in Vietnam and then during Trump's dramatic walk into North Korea on June 30. "From our perspective, we would hope that no one would try to block, in their government or our government, the ability for President Trump and Chairman Kim to make progress on the commitments they made to each other in Vietnam," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters. "We look forward, of course, to resuming those negotiations and we hope to talk, always, so we can advance progress on these commitments," Ortagus said. The joint drills were reduced in scope after Trump's historic first summit with Kim in Singapore last year. But an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson described the drills as "clearly a breach" of a joint statement signed by the leaders in Singapore and hinted that Pyongyang may resume weapons tests in response. "If the military exercise really goes ahead, it would affect the DPRK-US working-level talks," the official said in comments carried by state news agency KCNA, using the official acronym for North Korea. Pyongyang's moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests was a commitment aimed at improving bilateral relations and "not a legal document inscribed on a paper," the official said. "With the US unilaterally reneging on its commitments, we are gradually losing our justifications to follow through on the commitments we made with the US as well." Trump and Kim's unexpected June meeting took place as negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington were at a deadlock, following a rocky negotiation process brokered by Seoul after a thaw in tensions in early 2018. During the encounter, Trump became the first US president to set foot on the country's soil and the pair agreed to resume working-level talks to lay the groundwork for a future deal. 'Very provocative' drills There are close to 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea, and their annual drills with tens of thousands of South Korean soldiers have always infuriated the North -- with Pyongyang condemning the manoeuvres as rehearsals for invasion. But following the Singapore summit, Trump announced the suspension of what he called Washington's "very provocative" joint military exercises with South Korea. A smaller-scale version of the exercises was last held in March, with more scheduled for August. Washington has previously insisted on North Korea's complete denuclearisation as a condition for lifting punishing US sanctions. At the Singapore summit, the two adopted a vaguely worded statement on "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" and agreed to "establish new US-DPRK relations". But the failure to reach an agreement over sanctions relief and what the North was willing to give in return led to the collapse of the leaders' second summit in February in Hanoi. Tensions were raised in May, during the standstill in negotiations between Trump and Kim, when North Korea fired short-range missiles for the first time since November 2017.

US hopes North Korea talks go ahead despite Pyongyang threat

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he would be meeting the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/he-very-much-wants-to-trump-on-possible-encounter-with-kim-231613">North Korean leader Kim Jong-un </a>at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) shortly.

Trump made the announcement after holding a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday.

Trump said he was looking forward to his meeting Sunday with North Korean leader.

"We're going to the DMZ border and I'll be meeting with Chairman Kim. I look forward to it very much," Trump told reporters in Seoul. "We've developed a very good relationship."

The meeting was first confirmed by&nbsp;South Korean President Moon and later by Trump himself.

Earlier on Saturday Trump proposed a meeting with North Korean leader in the DMZ&nbsp;that divides the Korean peninsula between north and south.

Trump suggested in a tweet that he could meet the North Korean leader while visiting neighbouring South Korea after he leaves the G20 meeting in Osaka, Japan.

“While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-travel-to-demilitarised-zone-for-possible-meeting-with-kim-jong-un-231608">Border/DMZ </a>just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!” the president said in a tweet.

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However, North Korea said that they were yet to receive an official request from Trump regarding his meeting with Kim but described the US president's surprise invitation to meet Kim Jong-un "interesting".&nbsp;

"We see it as a very interesting suggestion, but we have not received an official proposal in this regard," the official KCNA news agency quoted Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui as saying. &nbsp;

This is would be the third meeting between the two leaders in just over a year, and four months since their second summit, in Vietnam. The Vietnam summit collaposed with no progress on US efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he would be meeting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) shortly. Trump made the announcement after holding a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he would be meeting the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) shortly. Trump made the announcement after holding a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday. Trump said he was looking forward to his meeting Sunday with North Korean leader. "We're going to the DMZ border and I'll be meeting with Chairman Kim. I look forward to it very much," Trump told reporters in Seoul. "We've developed a very good relationship." The meeting was first confirmed by South Korean President Moon and later by Trump himself. Earlier on Saturday Trump proposed a meeting with North Korean leader in the DMZ that divides the Korean peninsula between north and south. Trump suggested in a tweet that he could meet the North Korean leader while visiting neighbouring South Korea after he leaves the G20 meeting in Osaka, Japan. “While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!” the president said in a tweet. × However, North Korea said that they were yet to receive an official request from Trump regarding his meeting with Kim but described the US president's surprise invitation to meet Kim Jong-un "interesting". "We see it as a very interesting suggestion, but we have not received an official proposal in this regard," the official KCNA news agency quoted Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui as saying. This is would be the third meeting between the two leaders in just over a year, and four months since their second summit, in Vietnam. The Vietnam summit collaposed with no progress on US efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

Trump says he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at demilitarised zone

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Kim Jong-un "very much wants" to meet him, a day after inviting the North Korean leader for a handshake in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula, reported news agency AFP.

"We'll see. He very much wants to. We are trying to work it out," Trump reportedly told reporters about a possible third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-travel-to-demilitarised-zone-for-possible-meeting-with-kim-jong-un-231608">face-to-face meeting</a> between the pair after summits in Singapore and Hanoi.

"It will be very short but that's OK. A handshake means a lot," he added, with the encounter expected to last only a matter of minutes if Kim accepts the invitation.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in would accompany him to the DMZ, he told business leaders.

Trump said on Saturday he would like to meet with North Korean leader this weekend at DMZ on the border of North and South Korea. Trump is due at the DMZ.

"While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-invitation-interesting-but-no-official-request-north-korea-231370">Border/DMZ </a>just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!" Trump said on Twitter on Saturday.

Negotiations between US and North Korea have stalled since a second summit in Vietnam in February collapsed as the two sides failed to narrow differences between US calls for denuclearization and North Korean demands for sanctions relief.

(With inputs from AFP)

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Kim Jong-un "very much wants" to meet him, a day after inviting the North Korean leader for a handshake in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula, reported news agency AFP.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Kim Jong-un "very much wants" to meet him, a day after inviting the North Korean leader for a handshake in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the peninsula, reported news agency AFP. "We'll see. He very much wants to. We are trying to work it out," Trump reportedly told reporters about a possible third face-to-face meeting between the pair after summits in Singapore and Hanoi. "It will be very short but that's OK. A handshake means a lot," he added, with the encounter expected to last only a matter of minutes if Kim accepts the invitation. South Korean President Moon Jae-in would accompany him to the DMZ, he told business leaders. Trump said on Saturday he would like to meet with North Korean leader this weekend at DMZ on the border of North and South Korea. Trump is due at the DMZ. "While there, if Chairman Kim of North Korea sees this, I would meet him at the Border/DMZ just to shake his hand and say Hello(?)!" Trump said on Twitter on Saturday. Negotiations between US and North Korea have stalled since a second summit in Vietnam in February collapsed as the two sides failed to narrow differences between US calls for denuclearization and North Korean demands for sanctions relief. (With inputs from AFP)

'He very much wants to': Trump on possible encounter with Kim

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he could soon talk with North Korea's strongman leader Kim Jong-un even if they don't meet, reported news agency AFP.

The US president is headed to South Korea following this week's G20 summit in Japan.

"I'll be meeting with a lot of other people. Not him," AFP reported&nbsp;Trump as saying to reporters at the White House. "I may be speaking to him in a different form."

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang are deadlocked after a second summit between Kim and Trump broke up in Hanoi in February with the two unable to reach a deal on sanctions relief and what the North might give up in return.

Before the collapse of the Hanoi summit, Trump had said that he and Kim had an excellent relationship, and had even "fallen in love."

The two sides have had minimal contact and Trump is due to fly to Seoul at the weekend for a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently said he received a personal letter of "excellent content" from US President Donald Trump.

Kim "said with satisfaction that the letter is of excellent content," Korean Central News Agency reported.

"Appreciating the political judging faculty and extraordinary courage of President Trump, Kim Jong-un said that he would seriously contemplate the interesting content," KCNA said.

(With inputs from AFP)

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he could soon talk with North Korea's strongman leader Kim Jong-un even if they don't meet, reported news agency AFP. The US president is headed to South Korea following this week's G20 summit in Japan.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he could soon talk with North Korea's strongman leader Kim Jong-un even if they don't meet, reported news agency AFP. The US president is headed to South Korea following this week's G20 summit in Japan. "I'll be meeting with a lot of other people. Not him," AFP reported Trump as saying to reporters at the White House. "I may be speaking to him in a different form." Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang are deadlocked after a second summit between Kim and Trump broke up in Hanoi in February with the two unable to reach a deal on sanctions relief and what the North might give up in return. Before the collapse of the Hanoi summit, Trump had said that he and Kim had an excellent relationship, and had even "fallen in love." The two sides have had minimal contact and Trump is due to fly to Seoul at the weekend for a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently said he received a personal letter of "excellent content" from US President Donald Trump. Kim "said with satisfaction that the letter is of excellent content," Korean Central News Agency reported. "Appreciating the political judging faculty and extraordinary courage of President Trump, Kim Jong-un said that he would seriously contemplate the interesting content," KCNA said. (With inputs from AFP)

Trump says may talk with Kim Jong-un, without meeting

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that he hopes a letter sent by President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can pave the way for new talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program.

Pompeo, who confirmed Trump's letter to Kim before departing Washington on a trip to the Middle East, said that the United States was ready to resume talks with North Korea immediately.

"I'm hopeful that this will provide a good foundation for us to begin ... these important discussions with the North Koreans," Pompeo told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.

Earlier North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA said Kim had described the letter as being "of excellent content" but did not disclose any details about Trump's message.

The KCNA report said Kim "would seriously contemplate the interesting content."

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US-North Korea talks stalled after a failed summit in February between Trump and the North Korean leader in Hanoi, Vietnam.

A US official said on Wednesday the United States had no pre-conditions for new talks, but that progress would require meaningful and verifiable North Korean steps to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Pompeo did not discuss the contents of Trump's letter but said the United States has been working to lay foundations for discussions since the Hanoi summit abruptly ended by Trump. He added: "I think we're in a better place."

Asked if working-level discussions between the countries would begin soon, Pompeo said: "I think the remarks you saw out of North Korea this morning suggest that may well be a very good possibility. We're ready to go, we're literally prepared to go at a moment's notice if the North Koreans indicate that they're prepared for those discussions."

Trump leaves for Asia later this week for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, and meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Seoul.

Pompeo also will join Trump at the G20 summit and accompany the president to Seoul but said he will first travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to consult with the US allies on growing tensions with Iran.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that he hopes a letter sent by President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can pave the way for new talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday that he hopes a letter sent by President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can pave the way for new talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program. Pompeo, who confirmed Trump's letter to Kim before departing Washington on a trip to the Middle East, said that the United States was ready to resume talks with North Korea immediately. "I'm hopeful that this will provide a good foundation for us to begin ... these important discussions with the North Koreans," Pompeo told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. Earlier North Korea's state-run news agency KCNA said Kim had described the letter as being "of excellent content" but did not disclose any details about Trump's message. The KCNA report said Kim "would seriously contemplate the interesting content." × US-North Korea talks stalled after a failed summit in February between Trump and the North Korean leader in Hanoi, Vietnam. A US official said on Wednesday the United States had no pre-conditions for new talks, but that progress would require meaningful and verifiable North Korean steps to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Pompeo did not discuss the contents of Trump's letter but said the United States has been working to lay foundations for discussions since the Hanoi summit abruptly ended by Trump. He added: "I think we're in a better place." Asked if working-level discussions between the countries would begin soon, Pompeo said: "I think the remarks you saw out of North Korea this morning suggest that may well be a very good possibility. We're ready to go, we're literally prepared to go at a moment's notice if the North Koreans indicate that they're prepared for those discussions." Trump leaves for Asia later this week for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, and meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in Seoul. Pompeo also will join Trump at the G20 summit and accompany the president to Seoul but said he will first travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to consult with the US allies on growing tensions with Iran.

Pompeo says hopes Trump letter to North Korean leader can restart talks

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-considering-to-suspend-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-203425">denuclearization talks</a> with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

Pompeo, speaking at a news conference, also said he had every expectation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitment not to resume nuclear and missile testing.

"We're hopeful that we can continue to have conversations, negotiations," the top US diplomat told reporters, adding that North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui had left open the possibility of continued talks in the reported remarks.

"It's the administration's desire that we continue to have conversations around this," Pompeo added.

US officials have said they remain open to talks after the second summit between Kim and President Donald Trump collapsed last month with no deal, but have given no specifics.

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations.

The United States is hopeful that it can continue to hold denuclearization talks with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday (March 15) following reports that a top Pyongyang official had said the country may suspend negotiations. Pompeo, speaking at a news conference, also said he had every expectation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would live up to his commitment not to resume nuclear and missile testing. "We're hopeful that we can continue to have conversations, negotiations," the top US diplomat told reporters, adding that North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui had left open the possibility of continued talks in the reported remarks. "It's the administration's desire that we continue to have conversations around this," Pompeo added. US officials have said they remain open to talks after the second summit between Kim and President Donald Trump collapsed last month with no deal, but have given no specifics.

US Secretary of State Pompeo says US hopes to continue talks with North Korea

Gold prices eased on Friday on profit-taking, after breaking above $1,300 in the previous session when US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's decision to call off a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un triggered safe-haven buying.

Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at $1,302.18 per ounce at 0312 GMT, after gaining nearly 1 per cent in the previous session in its biggest one-day percentage rise since April 11. It remains on track for a weekly advance.

US&nbsp;gold futures for June delivery fell 0.2 per cent to $1,301.80 per ounce.

"It is normal for some profit-taking to ensue after a surge (in prices). Still, gold appears to be anchored in the $1,300-range, especially with the recent uptick in geopolitical tensions," said OCBC analyst Barnabas Gan.

"The sustained uncertainty over (US-North Korea) negotiations will likely add further upside to gold prices given safe-haven demand," Gan said.

Gold is often seen as a safe investment during times of political and financial uncertainty, alongside the Japanese yen.

The dollar regained its footing on Friday after dropping to a 2-week low versus the yen in the previous session, as North Korea said it was open to resolving issues with the United States after Trump on Thursday called off a summit with the North, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility".

A stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies.

The North's conciliatory remarks and commitment to US-North Korea talks had eased some concern about the crisis and pressured gold, said Helen Lau, an analyst at Argonaut Securities.

Meanwhile, Trump's threat to impose tariffs on auto imports drew strong criticism abroad and at home where US&nbsp;business&nbsp;groups and members of his own Republican Party warned of damage to the industry and raised the prospect of a global trade war that would harm American interests.

Elsewhere, eurozone growth could slow further and uncertainty is on the rise but the bloc's expansion remains solid and broad-based, European Central Bank policymakers concluded in April, the minutes of the meeting showed on Thursday.

Among other precious metals, silver fell 0.3 per cent to $16.57 an ounce, while platinum edged down 0.1 per cent to $908.50 an ounce after touching its highest since May 14 at $914.30 in the previous session.

Palladium climbed about 0.2 per cent to $976.10 an ounce.

All three of those metals were on course for weekly gains.

Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at $1,302.18 per ounce at 0312 GMT, after gaining nearly 1 percent in the previous session

Gold prices eased on Friday on profit-taking, after breaking above $1,300 in the previous session when US President Donald Trump's decision to call off a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un triggered safe-haven buying. Spot gold was down 0.2 per cent at $1,302.18 per ounce at 0312 GMT, after gaining nearly 1 per cent in the previous session in its biggest one-day percentage rise since April 11. It remains on track for a weekly advance. US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.2 per cent to $1,301.80 per ounce. "It is normal for some profit-taking to ensue after a surge (in prices). Still, gold appears to be anchored in the $1,300-range, especially with the recent uptick in geopolitical tensions," said OCBC analyst Barnabas Gan. "The sustained uncertainty over (US-North Korea) negotiations will likely add further upside to gold prices given safe-haven demand," Gan said. Gold is often seen as a safe investment during times of political and financial uncertainty, alongside the Japanese yen. The dollar regained its footing on Friday after dropping to a 2-week low versus the yen in the previous session, as North Korea said it was open to resolving issues with the United States after Trump on Thursday called off a summit with the North, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility". A stronger dollar makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for holders of other currencies. The North's conciliatory remarks and commitment to US-North Korea talks had eased some concern about the crisis and pressured gold, said Helen Lau, an analyst at Argonaut Securities. Meanwhile, Trump's threat to impose tariffs on auto imports drew strong criticism abroad and at home where US business groups and members of his own Republican Party warned of damage to the industry and raised the prospect of a global trade war that would harm American interests. Elsewhere, eurozone growth could slow further and uncertainty is on the rise but the bloc's expansion remains solid and broad-based, European Central Bank policymakers concluded in April, the minutes of the meeting showed on Thursday. Among other precious metals, silver fell 0.3 per cent to $16.57 an ounce, while platinum edged down 0.1 per cent to $908.50 an ounce after touching its highest since May 14 at $914.30 in the previous session. Palladium climbed about 0.2 per cent to $976.10 an ounce. All three of those metals were on course for weekly gains.

Gold slips, but demand keeps prices above $1,300

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes &quot;concrete actions,&quot; the White House said on Friday as it faced criticism for agreeing to talks that would give North Korea international legitimacy.

&quot;The president will not have the meeting without seeing concrete steps and concrete actions take place by North Korea, so the president will actually be getting something,&quot; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a news briefing.

Sanders did not specify what actions North Korea needed to take, and a White House official later said she was not intending to set new conditions for talks with Kim.

But the comments were a sign that an end to a standoff between the two countries over North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapon program is not imminent.

The United States has long said it wants any talks to aim at Pyongyang abandoning its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Hopes for a breakthrough with North Korea rose on Thursday when Trump said he was prepared to hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim.

The two leaders prompted jitters around the world last year as they exchanged bellicose insults over the North&#39;s attempts to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. Pyongyang has pursued its nuclear program in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

But tension eased around last month&#39;s Winter Olympics in South Korea, laying the groundwork for what would be the first meeting between leaders from North Korea and the United States, and the biggest foreign policy gamble for Trump since he took office in January last year.

The head of South Korea&#39;s National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, speaking in Washington on Thursday after briefing Trump about a meeting South Korean officials held with Kim this week, said the US&nbsp;president had agreed to meet the North Korean leader by May in response to an invitation from Kim.

Kim had &quot;committed to denuclearization&quot; and to suspending nuclear and missile tests, Chung said.

Buying time?

A senior State Department official said the talks would likely only be a preliminary discussion about holding future negotiations.

&quot;The expectation is that the talks would lead to a discussion around a conclusion that we&#39;re ready to engage in negotiations,&quot; the official said.

Trump&#39;s sudden decision to meet with Kim stunned even people in his own administration.

Sanders&#39; comments seemed aimed at criticism in the United States that Trump took a misstep by agreeing to talks - thus giving Pyongyang the international legitimacy it seeks - but without earning any big concessions from the North.

&quot;The Administration must go into any meeting with a plan to ensure that negotiations with Kim Jong-un produce real results, not a photo op that lends legitimacy to North Korea&rsquo;s murderous regime,&rdquo; US&nbsp;Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said in a statement.

Some US&nbsp;officials and experts worry North Korea could buy time to build up and refine its nuclear arsenal if it drags out talks with Washington.

A White House official said Trump remained committed to a meeting with Kim based on the conditions laid out by South Korea on Thursday: that Kim is committed to denuclearization, will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests, and understands that US-South Korean military exercises must continue.

&ldquo;(The North Koreans) are saying the right things and we&rsquo;re going to listen to them at the table and we&rsquo;re going to see where this leads,&rdquo; the official said.

No venue or date has been announced for the summit, which is expected to be held in May. Neutral Switzerland, which often hosts summits, said it was ready to facilitate the meeting.

China welcomes talks

A Trump-Kim summit would be a major turnaround after a year in which North Korea has carried out a battery of missile tests that Washington sees as provocative and after a barrage of insults between the two leaders.

US-based experts say North Korea appeared to show last November that it has succeeded in developing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon anywhere in the United States.

Trump has derided Kim as a &quot;maniac,&quot; referred to him as &quot;little rocket man&quot; and threatened in a speech last year to &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it attacked the United States or one of its allies.

Kim responded by calling Trump a &quot;mentally deranged US&nbsp;dotard.&quot;

The Trump administration has led a worldwide push to tighten international sanctions on North Korea to choke off resources needed for its weapons programs.

World leaders welcomed prospects for a possible thaw in the Korea standoff including China, which is North Korea&#39;s largest trading partner and its sole major ally.

President Xi Jinping told Trump in a phone call on Friday that he appreciates his desire to resolve the North Korea issue politically, Chinese state media said.

Xi &quot;hopes the United States and North Korea start contacts and dialogue as soon as possible and strive to reach positive results,&quot; the report added.

Sarah Sanders did not specify what actions North Korea needed to take, and a White House official later said she was not intending to set new conditions for talks with Kim

US President Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes "concrete actions," the White House said on Friday as it faced criticism for agreeing to talks that would give North Korea international legitimacy. "The president will not have the meeting without seeing concrete steps and concrete actions take place by North Korea, so the president will actually be getting something," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told a news briefing. Sanders did not specify what actions North Korea needed to take, and a White House official later said she was not intending to set new conditions for talks with Kim. But the comments were a sign that an end to a standoff between the two countries over North Korea's nuclear weapon program is not imminent. The United States has long said it wants any talks to aim at Pyongyang abandoning its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Hopes for a breakthrough with North Korea rose on Thursday when Trump said he was prepared to hold an unprecedented meeting with Kim. The two leaders prompted jitters around the world last year as they exchanged bellicose insults over the North's attempts to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. Pyongyang has pursued its nuclear program in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. But tension eased around last month's Winter Olympics in South Korea, laying the groundwork for what would be the first meeting between leaders from North Korea and the United States, and the biggest foreign policy gamble for Trump since he took office in January last year. The head of South Korea's National Security Office, Chung Eui-yong, speaking in Washington on Thursday after briefing Trump about a meeting South Korean officials held with Kim this week, said the US president had agreed to meet the North Korean leader by May in response to an invitation from Kim. Kim had "committed to denuclearization" and to suspending nuclear and missile tests, Chung said. Buying time? A senior State Department official said the talks would likely only be a preliminary discussion about holding future negotiations. "The expectation is that the talks would lead to a discussion around a conclusion that we're ready to engage in negotiations," the official said. Trump's sudden decision to meet with Kim stunned even people in his own administration. Sanders' comments seemed aimed at criticism in the United States that Trump took a misstep by agreeing to talks - thus giving Pyongyang the international legitimacy it seeks - but without earning any big concessions from the North. "The Administration must go into any meeting with a plan to ensure that negotiations with Kim Jong-un produce real results, not a photo op that lends legitimacy to North Korea’s murderous regime,” US Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who is vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said in a statement. Some US officials and experts worry North Korea could buy time to build up and refine its nuclear arsenal if it drags out talks with Washington. A White House official said Trump remained committed to a meeting with Kim based on the conditions laid out by South Korea on Thursday: that Kim is committed to denuclearization, will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests, and understands that US-South Korean military exercises must continue. “(The North Koreans) are saying the right things and we’re going to listen to them at the table and we’re going to see where this leads,” the official said. No venue or date has been announced for the summit, which is expected to be held in May. Neutral Switzerland, which often hosts summits, said it was ready to facilitate the meeting. China welcomes talks A Trump-Kim summit would be a major turnaround after a year in which North Korea has carried out a battery of missile tests that Washington sees as provocative and after a barrage of insults between the two leaders. US-based experts say North Korea appeared to show last November that it has succeeded in developing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon anywhere in the United States. Trump has derided Kim as a "maniac," referred to him as "little rocket man" and threatened in a speech last year to "totally destroy" North Korea, a country of 26 million people, if it attacked the United States or one of its allies. Kim responded by calling Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard." The Trump administration has led a worldwide push to tighten international sanctions on North Korea to choke off resources needed for its weapons programs. World leaders welcomed prospects for a possible thaw in the Korea standoff including China, which is North Korea's largest trading partner and its sole major ally. President Xi Jinping told Trump in a phone call on Friday that he appreciates his desire to resolve the North Korea issue politically, Chinese state media said. Xi "hopes the United States and North Korea start contacts and dialogue as soon as possible and strive to reach positive results," the report added.

US seeks 'concrete actions' from North Korea before planned talks

South Korea will dispatch a delegation led by senior security officials for a two-day visit to North Korea starting Monday, the presidential Blue House announced Sunday, as US&nbsp;President Donald Trump hinted that he is ready to talk to Pyongyang.

For its part, North Korea said it was not begging to talk with Washington and denounced upcoming US-South Korean joint-military exercises, warning that it would take counter measures against the United States if they went ahead.

The drills will take place next month, a South Korean presidential security adviser said according to the Yonhap news agency. They had been delayed until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympic games in South Korea.

South Korea&#39;s presidential Blue House said in a statement that National Security Office (NSO) head Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, a veteran of past negotiations with the North, will be among the 10-member South Korean delegation visiting Pyongyang.

The visit was part of an effort to lower tensions on the Korean peninsula as well as possibly arrange talks between North Korea and the United States, it said.

After the visit to North Korea the envoys will travel to the United States to brief officials, and Seoul said it would also coordinate closely with officials in Japan and China.

During a joke-filled monologue at a dinner with journalists in Washington on Saturday, Trump suggested that the United States will be meeting with North Korea but has told Pyongyang it must first &quot;denuke.&quot;

&quot;We will be meeting and we&#39;ll see if anything positive happens,&quot; he added.

It was unclear if Trump was joking or if formal US-North Korea talks were imminent.

Speaking on Sunday in Beijing ahead of the opening of China&#39;s parliament, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said China hoped the United States and North Korea could begin dialogue too.

&quot;War and chaos on the peninsula in not in the interests of any side,&quot; Zhang said.

Last month, US&nbsp;Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to meet with North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un&rsquo;s sister, while in South Korea for the Winter Olympics but the North Koreans cancelled at the last minute, US&nbsp;officials said in February.

North Korea reiterated on Saturday that it was willing to talk to the United States but said it would never sit with any precondition.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman was quoted by KCNA as saying &quot;we will neither beg for dialogue nor evade the military option claimed by the US&quot;

A commentary published by North Korea&#39;s official KCNA news agency warned that North Korea would &quot;counter the US&quot; if joint military drills go forward.

The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang last month gave a boost to recent engagement between the two Koreas after more than a year of sharply rising tensions over the North&#39;s missile programme and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in hopes to capitalize on that thaw in relations by arranging talks over North Korea&#39;s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme.

During a phone call on Thursday, Moon told Trump of his plan to send a special envoy to North Korea in response to an invitation from leader Kim Jong Un.

In sending an envoy to Pyongyang, Moon said he would be seeking to reciprocate Kim Jong Un&#39;s decision to send a senior delegation, including his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the Olympics, marking the first visit by a member of the North&#39;s ruling bloodline since the 1950-53 Korean War.

The White House has said any talks with North Korea must lead to an end of its nuclear programme, and on February 23, the United States said it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programmes.

At the time, Trump also warned of a &quot;phase two&quot; that could be &quot;very, very unfortunate for the world&quot; if the steps did not work.

North Korea said it was not begging to talk with Washington and denounced upcoming US-South Korean joint-military exercises, warning that it would take counter measures against the United States if they went ahead

South Korea will dispatch a delegation led by senior security officials for a two-day visit to North Korea starting Monday, the presidential Blue House announced Sunday, as US President Donald Trump hinted that he is ready to talk to Pyongyang. For its part, North Korea said it was not begging to talk with Washington and denounced upcoming US-South Korean joint-military exercises, warning that it would take counter measures against the United States if they went ahead. The drills will take place next month, a South Korean presidential security adviser said according to the Yonhap news agency. They had been delayed until after the Winter Olympics and Paralympic games in South Korea. South Korea's presidential Blue House said in a statement that National Security Office (NSO) head Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, a veteran of past negotiations with the North, will be among the 10-member South Korean delegation visiting Pyongyang. The visit was part of an effort to lower tensions on the Korean peninsula as well as possibly arrange talks between North Korea and the United States, it said. After the visit to North Korea the envoys will travel to the United States to brief officials, and Seoul said it would also coordinate closely with officials in Japan and China. During a joke-filled monologue at a dinner with journalists in Washington on Saturday, Trump suggested that the United States will be meeting with North Korea but has told Pyongyang it must first "denuke." "We will be meeting and we'll see if anything positive happens," he added. It was unclear if Trump was joking or if formal US-North Korea talks were imminent. Speaking on Sunday in Beijing ahead of the opening of China's parliament, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said China hoped the United States and North Korea could begin dialogue too. "War and chaos on the peninsula in not in the interests of any side," Zhang said. Last month, US Vice President Mike Pence was scheduled to meet with North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, while in South Korea for the Winter Olympics but the North Koreans cancelled at the last minute, US officials said in February. North Korea reiterated on Saturday that it was willing to talk to the United States but said it would never sit with any precondition. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman was quoted by KCNA as saying "we will neither beg for dialogue nor evade the military option claimed by the US" A commentary published by North Korea's official KCNA news agency warned that North Korea would "counter the US" if joint military drills go forward. The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang last month gave a boost to recent engagement between the two Koreas after more than a year of sharply rising tensions over the North's missile programme and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of United Nations sanctions. South Korean President Moon Jae-in hopes to capitalize on that thaw in relations by arranging talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. During a phone call on Thursday, Moon told Trump of his plan to send a special envoy to North Korea in response to an invitation from leader Kim Jong Un. In sending an envoy to Pyongyang, Moon said he would be seeking to reciprocate Kim Jong Un's decision to send a senior delegation, including his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the Olympics, marking the first visit by a member of the North's ruling bloodline since the 1950-53 Korean War. The White House has said any talks with North Korea must lead to an end of its nuclear programme, and on February 23, the United States said it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programmes. At the time, Trump also warned of a "phase two" that could be "very, very unfortunate for the world" if the steps did not work.

South Korea sending envoys to North Korea as Trump suggests US willing to talk

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington&#39;s envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang.

&quot;We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there,&quot; the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting.

Washington and Beijing -- the North&#39;s sole diplomatic and military ally -- are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added.

&quot;That&#39;s what we are working on now. We don&#39;t have it done yet,&quot; she said.

&quot;Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us.&quot;

On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm.&nbsp;

Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a &quot;heavy nuclear warhead.&quot;

The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers (1,312 miles) and travelled 787 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said.&nbsp;

(AFP)

'We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there,' US envoy to the United Nations said

The United States would consider talks with North Korea if it halts all nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Washington's envoy to the United Nations said Tuesday as the UN Security Council weighed new sanctions on Pyongyang. "We are willing to talk, but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear process and of any test there," the US envoy, Nikki Haley, told reporters ahead of a closed-door Security Council meeting. Washington and Beijing -- the North's sole diplomatic and military ally -- are working on a new Council resolution targeting Pyongyang, she added. "That's what we are working on now. We don't have it done yet," she said. "Absolutely, sanctions is something that we are looking at and we are going to continue to see where that takes us." On Sunday, North Korea launched what appeared to be the longest-range missile it has ever successfully tested, sparking global alarm. Pyongyang said the missile, the Hwasong-12, was capable of carrying a "heavy nuclear warhead." The missile, launched on an unusually high trajectory, flew to an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers (1,312 miles) and travelled 787 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). That suggests a range of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) or more if flown for maximum distance, analysts said. (AFP)

US would talk to N Korea if missile, nuclear tests stop: Haley