Kim orders 'good technical' preparations for summit with Trump: KCNA

By Lim Chang-won Posted : January 24, 2019, 08:58 Updated : January 24, 2019, 08:58

[KCNA / Yonhap Photo]


SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered "good technical" preparations for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he would wait patiently and move step by step to denuclearization.

Kim received Trump's "good" personal letter and expressed great satisfaction on Wednesday when he met with North Korean officials who came back from a trip to Washington, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Satisfied with the results of the delegation's visit, Kim spoke highly of Trump "for expressing his unusual determination and will for the settlement of the issue with a great interest" in the second summit, KCNA said.

"We will believe in the positive way of thinking of President Trump, wait with patience and in good faith and, together with the U.S., advance step by step toward the goal to be reached by the two countries," the North's leader was quoted as saying.

Kim "set forth tasks and orientation for making good technical preparations" for the second summit, KCNA said. After talks with the North Korean delegation, Trump said he's looking forward to meeting with Kim at the end of February. The venue for the second meeting between Kim and Trump has yet to be announced.

In his New Year message, Kim warned that he would find a new way if Washington misjudges his patience and clings to sanctions without reciprocating a series of proactive steps for denuclearization. He also called for "fair" proposals, based on the principle of mutually recognizing and respecting each.

At an inter-Korean summit in September last year, Kim offered to permanently dismantle facilities for ballistic missile launches and engine testing in the Sohae space center, which has played an important role in the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). U.S. officials have urged North Korea to take further steps.

Kim wants active multilateral negotiations to replace the truce agreement, which ended the 1950-53 Korean War, with a permanent peace treaty. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has suggested that at the last stage of denuclearization, a peace treaty should be signed between countries involved in the war.

Moon thinks a U.S. security guarantee will prompt North Korea to speed up denuclearization and lead to a permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula.

 
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