Trump, Moon discuss DPRK issue on phone

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U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for Seoul's possible humanitarian food assistance for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in phone talks with President Moon Jae-in, Yonhap reported citing the president's office.

Moon and Trump spoke by telephone for 35 minutes on Tuesday and discussed ways to continue dialogue with the DPRK in spite of its testing of "short-range projectiles" last week, the Blue House said.

"The two leaders exchanged their views on a recent report on North Korea's (DPRK) food situation," the statement said. "President Trump assessed that South Korea's (ROK) food provision to North Korea (DPRK) as a humanitarian effort will be a very timely and positive measure and he supported this."

DPRK military conducts a "strike drill" for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea during a military drill in DPRK, on May 4, 2019, with photo supplied by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). /Reuters Photo

Trump and Moon also talked about a visit by Trump to South Korea "in the near future," the statement said, without giving details.

The White House said only that Trump and Moon "discussed recent developments" on the DPRK and how to achieve its "final, fully verified denuclearization."

However, Trump was asked by reporters last month whether he was prepared to ease some sanctions on Pyongyang. Trump said he and Moon were discussing "certain humanitarian things" and the possibility of the Republic of Korea helping the DPRK with food.

DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un supervises a "strike drill" for multiple launchers and tactical guided weapon into the East Sea during a military drill in DPRK, on May 4, 2019, with photo supplied by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). /Reuters Photo

The Blue House also said despite DPRK's weapons tests, Trump and Moon "discussed ways to resume denuclearization talks as soon as possible, while keeping Pyongyang on the dialogue track for denuclearization."

It added that the Trump administration have played down the weapons tests.

In a Twitter message on Saturday shortly after tests, Trump said he was still confident he could reach a deal with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.