Kim said he spoke with Trump for about 20 minutes on Friday about North Korea and other issues during a meeting at the White House. He added that much of the conversation involved Trump asking for his views on the North Korean issue.
According to Kim, he told Trump that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung often describes Trump as “the only leader capable of resolving the Korean Peninsula issue.”
Kim said Trump showed strong interest in North Korea during the conversation and even asked an aide to bring a photo taken with Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom while discussing the matter.
“President Trump said he maintains a good relationship with Chairman Kim and asked whether Kim wants to engage in talks with the United States or with him personally,” Kim told reporters.
Kim said he responded by noting that Trump is the only Western leader who has held direct talks with the North Korean leader and that he believes Trump has unique capabilities as a peacemaker on the Korean Peninsula.
“He appeared to find the remarks meaningful and reacted with satisfaction,” Kim said, without disclosing further details about the advice he gave the U.S. president.
Kim also said he asked Trump whether he could submit a more detailed written memo in English outlining his views before leaving the United States, adding that the U.S. president agreed.
Kim said Trump indicated that a potential meeting with the North Korean leader could take place during or after his upcoming visit to China, though the timing was not the most important factor as long as dialogue and contact with Pyongyang resume.
Trump is scheduled to visit China from March 31 to April 2 for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, raising speculation that the trip could open a path toward renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy.
Earlier in the visit, Kim met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss bilateral issues, including the recently passed Special Act on Investment in the United States, which aims to support expanded South Korean investment in the U.S. and strengthen industrial cooperation between the two allies.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
