Yahoo News North Korean general heads to New York for talks to over historic summit
A top North Korean official is heading to the United States as part of efforts to salvage an historic summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.
Mr Trump confirmed on Twitter that Kim Yong Chol was “heading to New York” for talks that are hoped to put the summit scheduled for June 12 back on track.
The US President tweeted: We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!”
We have put a great team together for our talks with North Korea. Meetings are currently taking place concerning Summit, and more. Kim Young Chol, the Vice Chairman of North Korea, heading now to New York. Solid response to my letter, thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2018
The general will become the highest-ranking North Korean to visit the United States since General Jo Myong Rok went to the White House to see President Bill Clinton in 2000.
His trip comes after Mr Trump pulled out of the planned summit for Singapore on June 12, prompting frenzied talks to salvage the historic occasion.
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On Sunday Mr Trump said the US team had arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit, tweeting: “I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!”
A team is also said to be in Singapore making logistical plans for the summit.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are due to meet ahead of the summit.
After speaking with Mr Trump by telephone on Monday, Mr Abe told reporters in Tokyo that Mr Trump had briefed him on plans for the summit meeting and he and the American president had agreed to meet.
The White House said in a statement that the leaders had agreed on Monday to cooperate on the “shared imperative” of seeking the “complete and permanent dismantlement” of North Korea’s nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and missile programs.
