South Korea has said that Kim Jong Un is willing to ‘give up’ nuclear weapons if the security of his regime is guaranteed.
An envoy from Seoul made the announcement following a meeting with the North Korean leader. It is is reported that the North Korean leader is open to “frank” talks with the US, and that giving up nuclear weapons was the last wish of his father.
Speaking anonymously, an official said that Kim Jong Un “made clear that achieving denuclearisation is his father’s dying wish and that it has not been changed at all.”
US President Donald Trump gave the following reaction to the development:
Possible progress being made in talks with North Korea. For the first time in many years, a serious effort is being made by all parties concerned. The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2018
The US has previously said that concrete steps must be taken towards denuclearisation before any discussions with North Korea can take place. North Korea’s nuclear tests have repeatedly led to threats of war and insults between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump. North Korea’s last rocket test was in November.
Relations between the two Koreas have improved recently – Seoul said the meeting between their officials and Kim Jong Un had lasted more than four hours. Following the meeting, the two Koreas announced they would set up a leader-to-leader hotline.
North and South Korea are due to hold a summit next month at their armed border.
