N Korea’s response on summit cancellation warm, productive: Trump

Washington: United States President Donald Trump on Friday described a conciliatory statement from North Korea as “warm” and “productive” saying that the reclusive country was open to talks even after his abrupt cancellation of the much-anticipated June 12 meeting.

“Very good news to receive the warm and productive statement from North Korea. We will soon see where it will lead, hopefully to long and enduring prosperity and peace. Only time (and talent) will tell!” Trump said on Twitter.

According to Hill, North Korea issued a statement, earlier in the day, calling the cancellation “very regrettable” and said it remains willing to give President Trump the “time and opportunities” to reconsider his decision.

“We reiterate to the U.S. that there is a willingness to sit down at any time, in any way, to solve the problem,” North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

As the events developed, the US President stated that his summit
with North Korea’s leader could still happen on June 12, just a day after his abrupt cancellation of the same.

“We’re going to see what happens. We’re talking to them now. It was a very nice statement they put out. We’ll see what happens. It could even be the 12th. We’re talking to them now. They very much want to do it. We’d like to do it,” CNN quoted Trump, as saying.

On Thursday, the US President, as per a release by the White House, called off the much-anticipated United States-North Korea summit.
The US President blamed the ‘hostility’ and anger displayed by North Korea regarding the US-South Korea Max military drills for cancelling the summit.

“Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, l feel it is inappropriate at this time to have this long-planned meeting,” he said in a release.

Trump further took a dig at Kim Jong-Un by saying that “You talk about your nuclear capabilities. But ours are so massive and powerful that l pray to God they will never have to be used.”

He further said that “If you change your mind having to do with this summit, don’t hesitate”, as referred to canceling of the summit as a missed opportunity.

North Korea later said it was willing to talk “at any time in any form”.

Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan said, “Mr Trump’s cancellation decision was extremely regrettable”.(ANI)