U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could fizzle out without an agreement or it could result in “the greatest deal for the world” to ease nuclear tensions between the two countries.
“I may leave fast” if progress does not seem possible, Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally for Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone in western Pennsylvania. Mr. Trump said he believes North Korea wants to make peace and that, “I think it’s time.”
Time and place unclear
A time and place to meet has not yet been set, although the meeting is supposed to happen by the end of May. “Who knows what’s going to happen?” said Mr. Trump, who added that if the meeting takes place, “I may leave fast or we may sit down and make the greatest deal for the world.”
Mr. Trump made the shocking decision on Thursday to meet with Mr. Kim after the North Korean leader’s invitation was relayed by a South Korean delegation that visited the White House.
Earlier in Washington, Mr. Trump sought to rally international support for a potential summit, saying North Korea had agreed to not conduct another missile test until after proposed meetings had taken place.
“North Korea has not conducted a Missile Test since November 28, 2017 and has promised not to do so through our meetings. I believe they will honor that commitment!” he wrote on Twitter. Mr. Trump’s comments aligned with what a South Korean official stated on Thursday about the possible talks.
Mr. Trump also took to Twitter on Saturday to characterise the leaders of China and Japan as supportive of the potential dialogue.
Chinese President Xi Jinping “told me he appreciates that the U.S. is working to solve the problem diplomatically rather than going with the ominous alternative,” Mr. Trump wrote. He also tweeted: “Spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan, who is very enthusiastic about talks with North Korea.”
