KIM TOGETHER
Donald Trump to MEET Kim Jong-un for historic peace talks ‘before May’ as North Korea vows to down its nukes
DONALD Trump has dramatically agreed to meet Kim Jong-un face-to-face to discuss ending a nuclear stand-off as North Korea vowed to down its weapons.
The White House confirmed talks between the leaders will be held "at a place and time to be determined" but South Korea claims that a meeting would take place by May.
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South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui Yong said that Jong-un "expressed his eagerness to meet President Trump as soon as possible."
Speaking outside the White House on Thursday, he said Jong-un told the South Koreans he is "committed to denuclearisation" and pledged that "North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests."
The White House said the historic diplomatic meeting between the powerful leaders would take place, but wouldn't reveal when or where.
Sarah Sanders, White House spokeswoman, said: "President Trump greatly appreciates the nice words of the South Korean delegation and President Moon.
President Trump formally accepts Kim Jong Un's invitation but all sanctions and pressures remain
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"He will accept the invitation to meet with Kim Jong-un at a place and time to be determined.
"We look forward to the denuclearization of North Korea. In the meantime, all sanctions and maximum pressure must remain."
The president later told his 48 million followers on Twitter that "great progress" was being made and that a meeting was "being planned".
He said: "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. Meeting being planned!"
Trump’s White House staff were reportedly caught off guard by his sudden announcement, saying it “wasn’t planned”.
US officials were reportedly blindsided by Trump’s decision to pop into the briefing room today to reveal an announcement would be taking place regarding North Korea.
According to , the President was on his way to the East Wing to meet students when he stopped by the briefing room to tell the media the South Koreans were about to make their announcement.
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“This was not planned,” an administration official said. “It was all him.”
Trump appears to have caught his own top foreign policy official off guard as well.
Speaking to the media earlier in the day, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seemed to shoot down the prospect of direct negotiations with North Korea.
“In terms of direct talks with the United States, and you asked negotiations, we’re a long way from negotiations, we just need to be very clear-eyed and realistic about it,” Mr Tillerson said.
CNN reported that Pentagon officials were also not expecting Trump’s announcement.
The announcement came after Trump’s meeting with South Korea officials on Thursday.
How China's frosty relations with North Korea helped push Kim towards Trump
Jim Hoare, former Foreign Office diplomat who helped set up the British embassy in Pyongyang from 2001 to 2002, spoke to The Sun Online about China’s deteriorating relationship with North Korea.
Hoare, of The Royal Institute of International affairs, believes North Korea’s isolation could have helped push Kim Jong-un towards Trump.
He said: “You suddenly realise that everybody amongst your neighbours is not being very friendly. That would make me want to talk I think.”
He added: “Their relations with China are not good. The North Koreans feel like China is not helping them by signing up to UN sanctions
“The Chinese have come in for some criticism from North Korea on their willingness to impose sanctions.
“Just before Christmas, North Korea criticised Chinese for interfering with humanitarian work by not allowing certain goods across the border.”
Hoare says the Chinese “got very worried” over the terrifying war of words between Trump and Kim last year.
He says Beijing was worried that more incidents like January’s ballistic missile false alarm in Hawaii could become more common and that “somebody could react to that.”
The Republican firebrand will be the first sitting US President to meet with the leader of North Korea.
The South Korean delegation met with national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster before meeting Trump.
The US President then delivered the news and CCN reports that “it all happened in about an hour,” according to a senior administration official.
A meeting between the powerful leaders would be a major turnaround after North Korea carried out a battery of tests aimed at developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland.
The relationship between Trump and Kim has been fraught with the pair trading insults over social media and official public statement.
But earlier this week, Trump tweeted about the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Laughing North Korea leader Kim Jong-un vows never to use nukes at historic first meeting with South Korea
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He wrote: “Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned.
“The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!”
Trump's aides have been wary of North Korea's diplomatic overtures because of its history of reneging on international commitments.
A source close to North Korean officials said that dictator Kim is ready to cut a deal with the flamboyant New Yorker, reports the .
The source said: “If the process is managed well — quietly, carefully, and patiently — we could see a genuine deal that leads to de-nuclearisation and lasting peace on the peninsula.
“The North is not playing the same games they have played in the past. This is real.”
The development comes as the North has made some diplomatic moves in a possible attempt to thaw the acrimonious relations between both the South and the US.
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Chung and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon flew to Washington earlier on Thursday to explain North Korea's stance on possible future talks with the US, and the prospect of Pyongyang suspending nuclear tests if the security of the North's government is assured.
Earlier, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson said that though "talks about talks" might be possible with Pyongyang, denuclearisation negotiations were likely a long way off.
The rival Koreas have already agreed to hold a leadership summit in late April.
Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said in response to the announcement in Washington that North Korea must commit to abandoning nuclear development completely in order for meaningful talks to take place with Pyongyang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has signed off plans to nuke the US mainland
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