Kim likely to meet Trump at DMZ for summit

Image
ANI Washington D.C. [USA]
Last Updated : May 01 2018 | 11:00 AM IST

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to meet United States President Donald Trump at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea respectively, a source told CNN.

The source said that during the historic inter-Korean summit on Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in convinced Kim to meet the US President at the Peace House in Panmunjom in DMZ.

It further said that there was now a "strong possibility" of hosting the US-North Korea summit at the DMZ, adding it was logistically convenient for Kim since media facilities and equipment are already in place.

Additionally, the source revealed to CNN that some events could be held on the northern side of the DMZ.

The US-North Korea summit is scheduled to take place either in May or June. It would be the first time a sitting US President would meet with a North Korean Supreme Leader.

Trump on Monday hinted in a tweet that the bilateral summit may be conducted at the Peace House in Panmunjom or the Freedom House in Singapore.

"Numerous countries are being considered for the MEETING, but would Peace House/Freedom House, on the Border of North & South Korea, be a more Representative, Important and Lasting site than a third party country? Just asking!" the US President tweeted.

Trump added that he loved the images of the inter-Korean summit when Moon and Kim met and wished that he wanted to be involved in similar scenes.

However, the source further told CNN that administration officials were still pressing for Singapore as a possible location for the US-North Korea summit, adding that it was a more neutral option for Trump.

Singapore is one of the few countries that have diplomatic ties with North Korea and has an embassy as well.

Singapore is also considered a close ally of Washington D.C, as it hosts a military base for the US.

However, Kim is reluctant to travel to long distances, owing to security issues, the source said.

On Sunday, Trump said that a meeting between the US and North Korea is likely possible in "three or four weeks".

Another option previously suggested by both sides was Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, which is near to North Korea. Travelling to the sparsely-populated country will not pose a problem for Kim, as the two countries are connected by a railway link.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 01 2018 | 10:25 AM IST

Next Story