US President Donald Trump is looking ahead to his meeting with Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. At a campaign rally in Michigan, he announced that it could happen within a month. The exact date and venue are yet to be finalized. It will be an important summit because its main agenda will be denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula which had resulted in fears of a nuclear confrontation.
ABC News reports that Trump had discussed the issue with the leaders of both South Korea and Japan prior to the meeting with the leader of the North. Japan and the South are allies of the United States, and Trump appears to be satisfied with the way things are progressing.
Denuclearization of the Korean peninsula
The meeting between Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea, and Moon Jae-in, president of South Korea, has set the pace for the forthcoming one between Donald Trump and Kim. A senior US official has said that Singapore could be the venue of their summit.
The US President had taken credit for the Kim-Moon meeting and has indicated that he would not loosen the grip over Pyongyang on sanctions. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was all praises for Trump and his handling of the situation that culminated in the first-ever meeting between the two Korean leaders. Malcolm Turnbull feels the double-pronged attack of China and the United States had forced North Korea to consider denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
There was plenty of exchange of pleasantries at the event because it was the first time Kim Jong-un had stepped into South Korea. There was emotional undertones al around since hopes of a unified Korea have emerged along with the receding of warlike situations. The Korean War has separated many families, and they would be excited about the possibilities of reuniting.
Kim to close the nuclear test site
In order to show his sincerity, Kim Jong-un has agreed to close down the nuclear test site where his teams had been testing the nuclear missiles. According to BBC, the site will close in May before the summit with Donald Trump. This has been disclosed by the office of the president of South Korea.
The facility is located in tunnels in the mountains and closure will be done in the presence of experts from South Korea and the United States.
The major achievement of the meeting between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in was an agreement on making the Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Spokesman of the South Korean president has revealed that Kim Jong-un will ensure closure of the test site in May and involve the international community in the process so that there is transparency.
