ROK's Moon to meet Trump at UN this month

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Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump plan to discuss the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during the UN General Assembly in New York this month, officials from both sides confirmed on Tuesday.

Earlier on the day, Moon and Trump spoke for 50 minutes by telephone, a day before Moon's special envoys were due to visit Pyongyang to discuss a third summit to be held this month between Moon and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

In their call, Moon and Trump agreed "to explore the idea of meeting in person on the margins of the UN General Assembly and having in-depth consultations on strategies and how to cooperate on the peninsula issues," Moon's office said.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Moon briefed Trump on his plan to send a special envoy to Pyongyang on Wednesday to meet Kim.

"They agreed to meet later this month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York," she said.

The third inter-Korean summit follows Trump's cancellation of a visit to Pyongyang by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month.

In the unprecedented summit in Singapore nearly three months ago, Kim told Trump his country will work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but the two sides have uttered different approach towards that goal.

On Wednesday, Moon's special envoy, Chung Eui-yong, chief of the presidential National Security Office, headed to the DPRK, Yonhap reported.

Chung left Seoul along with four other delegates including National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon and Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chung said he would deliver a letter from Moon to Kim when he visits the DPRK, without elaborating on its contents.

Chung said he wanted to discuss with Pyongyang officials ways to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

(With inputs from agencies)