The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un invited U.S. President Donald Trump to visit Pyongyang in a letter sent in August, a Republic of Korea (ROK) newspaper reported on Monday, citing diplomatic sources.
The letter, the second Trump received from Kim last month amid stalled denuclearization talks between the two countries, predated the DPRK's latest launch of short-range projectiles a week ago.
In the second letter, which was passed to Trump in the third week of August, Kim spoke of his willingness to meet Trump for another summit, one source reportedly told the Joongang Ilbo newspaper.
The front pages of ROK's major newspapers and reports show the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in the Demilitarized Zone, July 1, 2019. /VCG Photo
The White House, the U.S. State Department and the DPRK's mission to the United Nations all did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump and Kim have met three times since June last year to discuss ways to resolve a crisis over the DPRK's missile and nuclear programs, but substantive progress has been scant.
The pair last met at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in June and agreed to restart working-level negotiations that had been stalled since an unsuccessful second summit between the two leaders in Vietnam in February.
Read more:
Trump becomes the first sitting U.S. president to visit DPRK
Different approaches to denuclearization put DPRK and the U.S. apart
Last week's round of short-range missiles came just hours after Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said the DPRK was willing to have "comprehensive discussions" late this month.
Trump subsequently said he would be willing to meet Kim at some point later this year.
The president said on August 9 he had received a three-page "very beautiful letter" from Kim and added he could have another meeting with him.
Moon actively supports U.S.-DPRK nuclear talks
ROK President Moon Jae-in said he's willing to do all he can to support denuclearization talks between the DPRK and the United States.
During a meeting with presidential aides, Moon said the working-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington will resume soon.
He will meet Trump later this month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
(With input from Reuters)