As a follow-up to the historic Singapore Summit, we noted that President Donald Trump plans to hold a second summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in February.
Korean sources indicate that Kim will travel to Vietnam for a state visit “after the Feb. 4-8 lunar new year” holiday.
The sources stopped short of clarifying if Kim’s trip would be related to his much-anticipated summit with Trump. Vietnam’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.Recent media reports have said that both Hanoi and the central Vietnamese city of Danang could be possible summit locations. The Thai capital of Bangkok has also been mentioned as a candidate site.
Intriguingly, this development occurs shortly after North Korea’s official newspaper called for efforts to turn the Korean Peninsula into a “peace zone” free of war threats.
“Turning the Korean Peninsula into a zone for solid peace is the basic way to open the heyday of peace, prosperity and reunification,” the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North’s ruling party, said in a commentary.”Only when we make the peninsula into a zone for lasting and solid peace will our people be able to enjoy a peaceful and stable life and build prosperity for future generations as well.”
North Korea’s leader has expressly stated that he is looking for a breakthrough in advancing talks aimed at disbanding his regime’s nuclear program as he hopes to avoid more confrontation, a Cheong Wa Dae official told The Korea Times, Friday. In fact, the letter delivered to the White House indicates more robust denuclearlization plans.
“Kim Yong-chol, Pyongyang’s lead negotiator in denuclearization with the United States, plans to deliver a handwritten letter from Kim Jong-un to U.S. President Donald Trump during his few hours in the United States,” the official said by telephone asking not to be identified.Details of the letter have yet to be known. But the soon-to-be-delivered letter included “more detailed plans” by North Korea toward dismantling its nuclear arsenal and reaffirmation by its leader to move forward with Pyongyang’s roadmap on how to gradually retire its hypersonic and cruise missiles, according to the official.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY