South Korean officials briefed the White House Thursday about their discussions this week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his offer to negotiate a freeze of his country’s nuclear weapons programs, but U. S. officials warned that talks are still not certain.
South Korean officials briefed President Trump’s national security team Thursday about their discussions this week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his offer to negotiate a freeze of his country’s nuclear weapons programs, but U. S. officials warned that talks are still not certain.
The South Korean delegation, led by Chung Eui-yong, the national security director, and Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, said it was delivering a message from Kim directly to the White House.
President Trump said a “major announcement” would be made at 7 p.m. tonight about North Korea at the White House, apparently by the visiting South Korean officials.
Meeting at the White House for several hours, the South Korean team briefed national security advisor H. R. McMaster, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.
Ever since a five-member South Korean delegation returned Tuesday from meeting Kim in Pyongyang, North Korea, the government in Seoul has appeared optimistic that a diplomatic breakthrough is possible that could break the nuclear impasse on the Korean peninsula.
