Donald Trump 'looking forward' to meeting Kim Jong-un in February

US President Donald Trump confirmed a second summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and said that he is “looking forward” to meeting the latter at the end of February. He also said on Twitter that the media wasn’t giving them due credit for the progress they have made with North Korea. The two leaders had met on June 12 last year in Singapore for the first summit. The White House had on Saturday announced the development, however, had not identified a location for the second summit between the two leaders. According to media reports, preparations were underway to host the summit, most likely in Vietnam's capital Hanoi or coastal city of Danang.

“The Media is not giving us credit for the tremendous progress we have made with North Korea. Think of where we were at the end of the Obama Administration compared to now. Great meeting this week with top Reps. Looking forward to meeting with Chairman Kim at end of February!” Trump tweeted on Sunday night (local time).

The Media is not giving us credit for the tremendous progress we have made with North Korea. Think of where we were at the end of the Obama Administration compared to now. Great meeting this week with top Reps. Looking forward to meeting with Chairman Kim at end of February!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2019

The announcement came after Trump met with North Korean envoy, Kim Yong Chol, on Friday for a discussion that included talk about Kim Jong-un's unfulfilled pledge to dismantle his country's nuclear weapons programmes. President Trump sat down with Kim Yong Chol, a high-level official in North Korea's Communist government, in the Oval Office, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.

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"President Donald J Trump met with Kim Yong Chol for an hour and half, to discuss denuclearization and a second summit, which will take place near the end of February. "The president looks forward to meeting with Chairman Kim at a place to be announced at a later date,” she said in a statement.

The press secretary told reporters: "We continue to make progress, we continue to have conversations." The US is going to continue to keep "pressure and sanctions" on North Korea until "we see fully and verifiable denuclearization", she said.

"We had very good steps and very good faith from the North Koreans with the release of hostages and other moves and so we'll continue this conversation. And the President looks forward to it next February," Sanders' told reporters. The North Korean envoy arrived at the White House after a closed-door meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun at a hotel.

(With agency inputs)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The two leaders could meet in Vietnam's capital Hanoi or coastal city of Danang.
• Announcement came after Trump met with N Korean envoy, Kim Yong Chol.
• They discussed denuclearisation and a second summit.