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| President Donald Trump, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in participate in a news conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday, before they head to Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone between two Koreas to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. AP-Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
U.S. President Donald Trump said that his country is in no rush to ease sanctions against North Korea, before a historic meeting with the country's leader Kim Jong-un, Sunday, at Freedom House in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas.
"I'm in no rush, sanctions are on. I'm in no rush with Iran. I'm never in a rush. If you are in a rush you get yourself in trouble," Trump said during a speech at a joint press conference with President Moon Jae-in after the two held a summit in Cheong Wa Dae.
The leaders started the summit at around 11:15 a.m., and finished an hour later, followed by an expanded meeting with officials from both countries.
Trump's remarks came amid stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington following the breakdown of the second summit between Chairman Kim and President Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, last February. The failure was due to different interpretations of the North's denuclearization and potential sanctions relief from the U.S. However, the leaders of the two countries seem to be starting reconciliatory moves by exchanging personal letters, which is leading many to expect the resumption of the denuclearization process. This seemed to cumulate with the first-ever trilateral meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas and the U.S. since the truce ending the 1950-53 Korean War.
After the G20 summit in Osaka, Trump began a two-day visit to South Korea, Saturday.
President Moon repeated his recent remarks on denuclearization, specifically that if North Korea dismantles its Yongbyon nuclear complex this would lead to the beginning of discussions about sanctions relief.
The two leaders also emphasized their strong alliance in their respective speeches.
"I think I can say with great confidence that the relationship with South Korea has never been stronger or better," Trump said.
"I feel happy and supported by the fact that we have reconfirmed the South and the U.S.' mutual goals and strategies thanks to President Trump's visit. We will closely and honestly communicate with each other on everything and develop this strong alliance further," Moon said.
"We have decided to further develop our relationship by expanding mutual education exchanges and investment. Our two countries will actively cooperate on tackling regional and international issues. The Asia Pacific is a key region for keeping peace and prosperity for both our countries," he added.
The first part of their summit was also participated in by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, chief of staff Noh Young-min, National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong and Ambassador to the United States Cho Yoon-jae from; and on the U.S. side, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, National Security Advisor John Bolton and Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris.
The expanded meeting was attended by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki; Cheong Wa Dae chief policy secretary Kim Sang-jo; Kim Hyung-jong, second deputy chief of the NSO; Korean nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon; Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Ko Min-jung and secretary to the President on peace and arms control Choi Jong-kun. For the U.S., Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin; White House adviser Ivanka Trump; senior advisor to the president Jared Kushner; senior director for Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council Matt Pottinger; special assistant to the president and senior director for international trade, investment and development Kelly Ann Shaw; and U.S. special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun.
