Moon, Trump to discuss NK in summit

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump are set to meet for the fifth time on Wednesday, discussing North Korea and Trump’s scheduled meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

In the meeting, scheduled to be held in Washington DC in the early hours of Wednesday (Korea time), the two leaders will focus on the US-North Korea summit, and recent changes in Pyongyang’s tone. 

Pyongyang has reverted to criticizing Seoul and Washington and threatened to call off the meeting with only weeks left until the summit scheduled for June 12 in Singapore.

Ahead of the Moon-Trump summit, Seoul’s National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong said that the summit will not follow a prearranged “scenario” and that none of Moon’s aides have been filled in on the details of the agenda.

“The two leaders are meeting with just two topics (on the agenda); how to bring about important agreements in the June 12 (US-North Korea) summit, and if an agreement is reached, how to go about implementing them,” Chung said aboard the flight to Washington.

He added that Seoul and Washington have been working closely together and sharing all information to direct North Korea to the path the two countries desire.

Chung also denied reports that Trump may be having second thoughts about meeting Kim.

The New York Times had reported that Trump has been questioning the need to hold the summit. The report also claimed that Trump had enquired of Moon why Pyongyang’s public statements contradict assurances Seoul’s leader had conveyed.

“(I) consider (the US-North Korea summit) to be 99.9 percent certain. However, preparations are being made as there can be many possibilities,” Chung said.

Chung’s comments echoed those from US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who told reporters that Trump doesn’t “get cold feet about anything,” and that the plans remain unchanged for the time being.

The US, however, is maintaining caution with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence highlighting the need for sincerity from all concerned parties and the need for sanctions to remain in place.

“China must continue to be strong & tight on the Border of North Korea until a deal is made. The word is that recently the Border has become much more porous and more has been filtering in. I want this to happen, and North Korea to be VERY successful, but only after signing!” Trump Tweeted hours before Moon’s arrival in Washington.

As for Pence, he warned “It would be a great mistake for Kim Jong-un to think he could play Donald Trump,” in a television interview, going on to say that Trump will walk away from the meeting if conditions are not met.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)