Trump-Kim Meeting: S. Korea official: US president agrees to talks with DPRK leader

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South Korea has announced that US President Donald Trump is ready and willing to meet with the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong Un. It's a remarkable turn of events considering just months ago, the US and the DPRK were exchanging threats. However, skepticism remains over what it will actually achieve. Shane Hahm reports.

It's a meeting few had anticipated. The President of the United States and the leader of the DPRK both say they are willing to sit down and talk. South Korean officials are optimistic about the prospects.

KIM EUI-KYEOM SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON "The two leaders' meeting following the inter-Korean summit will put the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula finally on track and will be remembered as a historic milestone, which will contribute to achieving peace on the peninsula in the future."

A meeting between Trump and Kim would be unprecedented. No sitting U.S. President has ever met the leader of the DPRK. Yet many experts are still skeptical that a meeting will lead to meaningful results.

JAMES KIM, RESEARCH FELLOW THE ASAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES "We've had at least two agreements before, the 94 Agreed Framework and the 2005 Joint Statement, which essentially stated that North Korea would denuclearize and here we are today. In both of those instances, the North Korean nuclear crisis hasn't been resolved as a result of these agreements."

Seoul officials have worked hard to facilitate a meeting between Washington and Pyongyang. For South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the margin for error is slim. Any miscalculation could wipe out all the diplomatic progress made in recent months.

JAMES KIM, RESEARCH FELLOW THE ASAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES "I think we're on a very, very short fuse here. President Moon is walking on thin ice. If he fails with this particular effort, then all bets are off."

SHANE HAHM SEOUL "Many here question the DPRK's true intentions. Why is the country willing to give up its nuclear and long-range missile programs at this point in time and at what cost? The ultimate goal, however, is clear—denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace in this region that appeared to be on the verge of nuclear war just a short time ago. Shane Hahm, CGTN, Seoul."