U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un walk together before their working lunch during their summit at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa, Singapore, June 12. REUTERS-Yonhap
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. is “in no hurry” to negotiate with North Korea, as progress on dismantling the country’s nuclear weapons program has stalled.
“Many people have asked how we are doing in our negotiations with North Korea,” Trump tweeted. “I always reply by saying we are in no hurry.”
He added, “There is wonderful potential for great economic success for that country” and that (North Korean leader) “Kim Jong Un sees it better than anyone and will fully take advantage of it for his people.”
“We are doing just fine!” he claimed.
The U.S. and North Korea have had no formal negotiations since Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June and agreed to “work toward” complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to hold talks with a senior North Korean official in New York, but the meeting was called off at a day’s notice, reportedly at the North’s request.
The Trump administration has promised economic rewards, including sanctions relief, in exchange for denuclearization, but the North has demanded concessions for the steps it has taken so far, such as the demolition of its nuclear testing site and the return of American prisoners.
Despite the apparent impasse, Trump said early this month that he expects to have a second summit with Kim in January or February.
He said the location has been narrowed down to three sites. (Yonhap)