WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his declaration of trust in his U.S. counterpart, vowing to continue cooperation on denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
“Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims ‘unwavering faith in President Trump.’ Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together,” the president wrote on Twitter.
Kim’s praise for Trump was conveyed through a South Korean delegation that met with Kim in Pyongyang on Wednesday, CNN reported. South Korean special envoy Chung Eun-yong revealed after that meeting that Kim also said he would like to achieve denuclearization of the North Korean peninsula by the end of Trump’s first term.
Kim pledged that he “was willing to take more active measures toward denuclearization if his advance steps could be met with matching measures” from the U.S., Chung said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his new special envoy for North Korea were set to visit the reclusive country last month, but the visit was abruptly canceled by Trump in a tweet because he said North Korea is “not making sufficient progress” on denuclearization efforts.
Trump also cited his administration’s trade skirmish with China for stalled nuclear talks, but said that he looks forward to seeing Kim “soon” once the dispute with China is “resolved.”