[Yonhap Photo]
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for gradual denuclearization by finding a solution of contentious issues through "effective and constructive" dialogue as his envoy is on a landmark trip to the United States with the leader's personal letter to President Donald Trump ahead of a potential summit between them in Singapore.
North Korea has insisted on phased and synchronous steps that have raised suspicions among U.S. officials about Pyongyang's true intentions. Washington wants swift action to realize complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization.
At talks in Pyongyang Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kim said his will for denuclearization "still remains unchanged and consistent and fixed," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"He hoped that the DPRK(North Korea)-U.S. relations and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula will be solved on a stage-by-stage basis by founding a solution to meet the interests of each other through a new method in a new era and under a new situation and the solution of the issues will progress through effective and constructive dialogue and negotiation," KCNA reported.
After two round of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York, Kim Yong-chol, one of the leader's confidants, is en route to Washington. Trump said that meetings to prepare for his summit with Kim have been "very positive."
"I believe they'll be coming down to Washington on Friday and a letter is going to be delivered to me from Kim Jong-un," Trump said. "So I look forward to seeing what's in the letter, but it's very important to them."
The U.S. leader said the summit in Singapore if held should be "very meaningful." "It doesn't mean it gets all done in one meeting. Maybe you have to have a second or third, and maybe we'll have none, but it's in good hands."
Pompeo said his talks with the North Korean envoy produced "real progress" toward a fruitful summit between their leaders.
"We've made real progress in the last 72 hours towards setting the conditions," the secretary said
On Wednesday, South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon proposed a simultaneous settlement of denuclearization and the regime's safety, expressing optimism that Pyongyang and Washington could find out a point of compromise. "I think both sides are increasing the possibility of finding a trade-off point because they are involved in direct negotiations in a top-down manner.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
