Trump and Kim to Hold Historic Meeting
Local Editor
In a stunning step, US President Donald Trump has agreed to a historic first meeting with Kim Jong Un.
Standing in front of the White House, South Korean National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong announced the first ever meeting between a US president and North Korean leader, which he said would take place by the end of May.
Chung had recently returned from Pyongyang, where he met Kim, who, he said "expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible."
Trump hailed "great progress" in the push to persuade Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program.
"Meeting being planned!" he tweeted. "Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze. Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time."
"Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached."
News of the summit, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in said was "like a miracle", is the latest step in a quickening diplomatic detente.
The thaw came after a period of extreme tension between Washington and Pyongyang that sounded like the growing drumbeat of war.
Just months ago, Trump mocked Kim by calling him "little rocket man". Kim returned the favor by describing Trump as "mentally deranged" and a "dotard."
Trump's strategy has been to ramp up sanctions, tighten the diplomatic screws and regularly threaten military force.
The White House said in a statement that strategy of "maximum pressure" would stay in place, for now.
"We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain."
But the prospect of a top-level meeting is a paradigm shift.
North Korean leaders have sought face-to-face talks with consecutive US presidents, who have rebuffed the idea as an effort to achieve strategic parity that does not exist.
Pyongyang now seems to have achieved its goal, while only agreeing to a temporary suspension of nuclear tests.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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