The goal is to achieve permanent denuclearisation. The president expressed his optimism about the meeting in a post on Twitter saying that Mr. Kim had “talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze.” Mr. Chung, a South Korean official, noted that the North Korean leader said he understood that joint military exercises with the United States and South Korea would go ahead as scheduled after the end of the Paralympic Games this month
. “Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time,” Mr. Trump added. “Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!” Mr. Trump later called Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, and the two discussed coordinating diplomatic efforts. Mr. Trump also plans to call President Xi Jinping of China. In South Korea, people greeted the news of a meeting between Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump with relief. China’s foreign ministry says it hopes all parties to the North Korean nuclear dispute will “show their political courage” in restarting negotiations, and pledges its support in working toward that goal.
