Trump heaps praise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in late-night tweet, suggests another meeting could happen 'soon'
President Donald Trump in a late-night tweet praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after his regime provided the US with what are believed to be the remains of US service members who died during the Korean War era.
Trump also appeared to suggest that there could be a second meeting with Kim, after the two leaders met for the first time during their summit in Singapore on June 12.
President Donald Trump in a late-night tweet praised North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after his regime provided the US with what are believed to be the remains of U.S. service members who died during the Korean War era.
Thank you to Chairman Kim Jong Un for keeping your word & starting the process of sending home the remains of our great and beloved missing fallen! I am not at all surprised that you took this kind action. Also, thank you for your nice letter - l look forward to seeing you soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2018
Trump also appeared to suggest there would be a second meeting with Kim, after the two leaders met for the first time during their summit in Singapore on June 12.
North Korea has provided the U.S. with 55 boxes of what are believed to be the remains of US troops. In a joint statement during their summit, Kim and Trump pledged to "commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified."
Around 5,300 US remains are still believed to be in North Korea.
It was also unclear which letter from Kim the president was referring to. The last letter that Trump mentioned publicly came in July when Kim said he hoped that a reciprocal relationship "will bring our next meeting forward.
A very nice note from Chairman Kim of North Korea. Great progress being made! pic.twitter.com/6NI6AqL0xt
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2018
During the summit, the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's state-run propaganda outlet, claimed that Kim invited Trump to visit Pyongyang at a "convenient time" and that Trump had invited Kim to the US.
"The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation, convinced that it would serve as another important occasion for improved DPRK-US relation," KCNA said in their propaganda dispatch.
Speaking to reporters at the summit, Trump said that he would "absolutely" invite Kim to the White House in Washington D.C.
If they were to happen, either of the trips would mark a significant shift in U.S.-North Korea relations, particularly after the bellicose rhetoric the two leaders exchanged in 2017. A Trump visit to Pyongyang would mark the first time a sitting U.S. president visits North Korea.
