WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to speak with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by telephone as well as meet him in person, a senior U.S. official said.
Speaking in a conference call briefing on the 18th ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit, the senior official was asked whether Trump might use the upcoming U.S.-China summit as a springboard for future talks with Kim. "The president's message has been conveyed quite publicly already," the official said, adding that Trump is ready to talk with Kim either by phone or face to face. "I think the ball is very much in North Korea's court at this point," the official said.
The official did not say what cooperation Trump would seek from Xi regarding U.S.-North Korea dialogue at the summit.
Attention is focused on whether Trump will seek to revive talks with Pyongyang around his summit with Xi on the 24th. Some observers have suggested Trump could ask Xi for advice on handling his relationship with Kim.
On the 1st, the White House reaffirmed its position that it is open to talks with North Korea without preconditions, telling South Korean media in response to a query about preparations for a summit that Trump remains open to speaking with Kim without any preconditions.
On the 19th of last month, Trump declined to give a specific answer when asked whether the denuclearization of North Korea remains the goal of resuming talks, saying he did not want to discuss it. Some read the remark as groundwork to draw Kim, who has ruled out denuclearization negotiations, back to the table. Others voiced concern that the denuclearization agenda could be pushed aside as Trump pursues dialogue with Pyongyang.
