US President Donald Trump has received a "very positive" letter from Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un seeking a follow-up meeting after their historic summit in Singapore, the White House said Monday.
"It was a very warm, very positive letter," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said, adding that the message showed Pyongyang's "continued commitment to focus on denuclearization" on the Korean Peninsula.
"The primary purpose of the letter was to schedule another meeting with the president, which we are open to and are already in the process of coordinating," she said at the first White House press briefing in nearly three weeks.
Sanders added that the letter was "further evidence of progress" in Washington's relationship with Pyongyang.
In this file photo taken on June 12, 2018 US President Donald Trump (R) walks out with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) after taking part in a signing ceremony at the end of their historic US-DPRK summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore. /VCG Photo
Trump and Kim held a historic summit in Singapore in June that raised prospects of a breakthrough on curtailing DPRK's nuclear program.
Despite follow-on negotiations on denuclearizing the peninsula hitting a snag leading to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo canceling a planned trip to the DPRK late last month, the new letter from Kim showed signs that the discussions remain alive after weeks of apparent deadlock.
"We think it's important and we're glad that we're making progress," Sanders said, adding that Trump deserves the "credit" for bringing the two parties to the table.
"At the end of the day, ultimately, it's always going to be best when you can have the two leaders sit down," she added.
The White House has pointed to a series of accomplishments in recent months, including a release of US hostages, the repatriation of war remains believed to be of US service members and a pause in DPRK's missile and nuclear tests, to suggest progress between the foes.
In this file photo taken on June 12, 2018 DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (R) walks with US President Donald Trump (L) during a break in talks at their historic US-DPRK summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore. /VCG Photo
The DPRK on Sunday refrained from displaying its intercontinental missiles in a massive parade through Pyongyang celebrating the country's 70th birthday.
The latest parade "for once was not about their nuclear arsenal," Sanders said.
Trump thanked Kim for the gesture, saying on Twitter: "This is a big and very positive statement from North Korea (DPRK)."
Sanders was asked whether the next Trump-Kim meeting would take place in Washington, but she declined a clear answer, saying, "we'll let you know when we have further details."
The letter's arrival was confirmed as Trump's top security advisor said the White House was looking to the DPRK for next steps.
"We're still waiting for them. The possibility of another meeting between the two presidents obviously exists," said National Security Advisor John Bolton.
"But President Trump can't make the North Koreans walk through the door he's holding open. They are the ones that have to take the steps to denuclearize. And that's what we are waiting for."
Bolton said in a speech to the Federalist Society that during the Singapore meeting with Trump in June, Kim committed to getting rid of his nuclear weapons, and later agreed with Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in that it could be done in one year.
After his speech, Bolton told reporters "it's entirely possible" for the two leaders to meet by year's end.
As the White House said it was planning another summit with Pyongyang, Moon called for a "bold decision" by Trump and Kim on denuclearization on Tuesday.
The complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is an issue that should fundamentally be resolved between the US and the DPRK through negotiation, Moon said during a cabinet meeting.
Until talks and communication between the DPRK and the US become more active, the ROK cannot but work to mediate between them, Moon said, adding that Trump and Kim have asked him to play this role.
Meanwhile, ROK Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with Stephen Biegun, the new US special envoy on the DPRK, in Seoul on Tuesday.
Biegun said his Seoul visit is meant for consultations on ways to "make progress in denuclearization and (bring) stable peace to the Korean Peninsula" on a firm US-ROK alliance, vowing to continue close cooperation and consultations on each level between the two allies.
Biegun also met with his ROK counterpart Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs.