North Korea urges hardliners not to 'spoil atmosphere' as it breaks silence on planned Trump-Kim meeting

North Korea has called for a “patient” approach to the recent fast paced developments in its relations with Seoul and Washington, finally breaking its silence since US President Donald Trump surprised the world by accepting an invitation to meet Kim Jong-un.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cautioned on Wednesday morning that diplomatic ties were only just beginning, warning hardliners in the two countries not to “spoil the atmosphere.”

“We do like to remind that it is time for all to approach everything with prudence and with self-control and patience,” KCNA said in a commentary that was reported by South Korea’s Yonhap.

The statement, in a newswire used by the regime to convey its messages, marks the first time Pyongyang has publicly reacted to Mr Trump’s stunning decision on March 9 to go ahead with a summit with Mr Kim, pledging to do so “by May”.

Mr Trump’s response followed an invitation from Mr Kim that was personally delivered by South Korean envoys who had met with the reclusive leader in Pyongyang.

The KCNA commentary did not directly reference his announcement but briefly mentioned “a sign of change” in its ties with the US, alongside a dramatic atmosphere for reconciliation that had been created between the two Koreas.

North Korea’s awkward two week silence since the US president’s dramatic gesture had given rise to criticism about Pyongyang’s sincerity and motivations.

However, KCNA slammed conservative voices in South Korea, the US and Japan for “distorting the truth” by claiming tough international sanctions had forced North Korea to the negotiating table.

“It is really an expression of small-mindedness for the riffraff to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the inner thoughts of the other side,” it said.

Preparations for the proposed summit appear to be underway behind-the-scenes, although there is still no agenda or date.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in also intends to meet one-on-one with Mr Kim at the end of April.

On Wednesday he said the Korean peninsula was currently on an “unexplored path” and floated the possibility of an additional three-way summit between the two Koreas and the US at a later date.

“Holding a North Korea-US summit following a South-North Korea summit itself is a historical event. And depending on their outcomes, they may lead to a three-way summit of South, North and US,” he said during a preparation meeting for the April talks.

“We must completely resolve the issues of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace through these upcoming talks and others that will follow,” he added, in comments relayed to reporters by the presidential office.  

The new British ambassador to Seoul, Simon Smith, also announced on Wednesday that the UK was willing to provide expert knowledge in nuclear power generation and non-proliferation to assist in the process of denuclearising North Korea.

“I think at this stage, we recognise that major next steps (for denuclearisation) are already on the calendar,” he told a press conference, welcoming the proposed summits as “a real, genuine opportunity.”

Meanwhile Seoul is attempting to maintain the diplomatic thaw by sending K-pop singers to Pyongyang for the first time since 2005.

More than 150 artists, including K-pop stars and popular girl band Red Velvet, will visit the North to perform in concerts for four days from March 31.

The delegation intends to replicate a similar visit by North Korean cheerleaders and performing artists during the February Winter Olympics in the South.

Singer and record producer Yoon Sang, who led South Korea’s negotiating team to arrange the trip said the first task of the performances would be to “instil the same awe in North Korean audiences as we do in our South Korean ones.”