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Donald Trump speaks with Xi Jinping, Shinzo Abe over potential meeting with North Korea

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 11 Mar 2018

Donald Trump speaks with Xi Jinping, Shinzo Abe over potential meeting with North Korea

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he has received encouraging words from China and Japan for agreeing to sit for a meeting with North Korea leader Kim Jong- Un in the upcoming days.

Trump said he spoke over the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.

"Chinese President XI JINPING and I spoke at length about the meeting with KIM JONG UN of North Korea. President XI told me he appreciates that the U.S. is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative. China continues to be helpful!," Trump tweeted.

Speaking on his interaction with Shinzo Abe, Trump said: " Spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan, who is very enthusiastic about talks with North Korea. Also discussing opening up Japan to much better trade with the U.S. Currently have a massive $100 Billion Trade Deficit. Not fair or sustainable. It will all work out!"

Meanwhile, Trump expressed his hope that North Korea will keep the promise of not conducting a missile test in the interim period.

"North Korea has not conducted a Missile Test since November 28, 2017 and has promised not to do so through our meetings. I believe they will honor that commitment!," Trump appreciated.

The US on Friday said meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-UN will not take place until North Korea  takes 'concrete actions'.

"Look, that’s something that we’re going to continue advocating for and pushing for. But let’s not forget that the North Koreans did promise something: They’ve promised to denuclearize, they’ve promised to stop nuclear and missile testing, and they’ve recognized that we’re going to continue in our military exercises," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told during news briefing.

"Let’s be very clear: The United States has made zero concessions. But North Korea has made some promises. And, again, this meeting won’t take place without concrete actions that match the promises that have been made by North Korea," she said.

Trump himself tweeted to inform that the time and place for the meeting will be determined.

"The deal with North Korea is very much in the making and will be, if completed, a very good one for the World. Time and place to be determined," Trump tweeted.

In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has said he is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Trump earlier tweeted: "Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!"

The announcement over the meeting was made in Washington by South Korean officials.

They passed on a letter from the North Korean leader.

South Korean officials met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. Image: Websitegrab from Kyodo News.

The meeting, which would be the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader, is likely to happen by May, according to South Korea's national security adviser, Chung Eui-yong, who delivered the invitation to Trump after a visit by his delegation to Pyongyang earlier this week, CNN reported.

The move appears to be a major breakthrough after months of barbs exchanged between North Korea and the US.

Meanwhile, United States Vice President Mike Pence has said that North Korea's willingness to hold talks with Donald Trump is a victory for the US President and his strategy to isolate the secretive Asian nation.

Fresh development in the relationship between North Korea, South Korea and the US began recently when a North Korea  delegation was invited to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The White House also confirmed that Trump has accepted North Korea's invitation for a meet.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders  said in a statement: "I told President Trump that, in our meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is committed to denuclearization. Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests. He understands that the routine joint military exercises between the Republic of Korea and the United States must continue.  And he expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible."

"President Trump appreciated the briefing and said he would meet Kim Jong-un by May to achieve permanent denuclearization," said the statement.

However, the statement confirmed that: "The Republic of Korea, the United States, and our partners stand together in insisting that we not repeat the mistakes of the past, and that the pressure will continue until North Korea matches its words with concrete actions."

2017 witnessed US President Donald Trump slamming North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the Asian nation continued to conduct several of its missile tests, teasing world peace and tranquillity and often threatening to trigger a war.

Situation became far tensed when North Korea tested an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) that the nation said was capable of striking US mainland.

The United Nations Security Council imposed strong new sanctions against the Asian nation after its Nov 29 launch of a  nuclear-capable weapon.