ROK looks for Kim nuclear dismantling pledge at next Trump summit

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) must make concrete pledges toward curbing its nuclear weapons program, such as dismantling its main nuclear complex and allowing international inspections to confirm the process, when its leader Kim Jong Un meets U.S. President Donald Trump as soon as next month, the Republic of Korea's (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said on Thursday.

She expressed her optimism at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the DPRK will agree to concrete steps towards abandoning its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, developed in violation of United Nations resolutions.

"The (DPRK) leader has promised to his people many times that 'I'm going to take this country towards economic development.' He has to deliver that, and he's not going to get the kind of significant assistance unless he takes concrete steps toward denuclearization and somehow eases the sanctions regime," the minister said.

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) speaks to the media as he walks with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un during a break in talks at their historic U.S.-DPRK summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

"Given the strong political will on the part of the top leaders of the two sides... I think we will see concrete results."

Trump and Kim held a historic first summit in Singapore last June. The White House said last week a second summit would be held in late February but did not say where.

Kim orders preparations for 2nd Trump meet

DPRK's media reported Thursday that the leader has ordered preparations for a second summit with Trump, saying he'll “wait with patience and in good faith” to work toward a common goal.

Despite Kim's determination for another meeting with Trump, the two remain at odds over fundamental issues.

Kim pledged at the first summit to work towards "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," but discussions over how to implement the vague commitments have since faltered.

Washington is demanding concrete action towards denuclearization, such as full disclosure of DPRK's nuclear and missile facilities, before agreeing to key goals of Pyongyang – easing tough international sanctions and declaring an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Vietnam has no information on Trump-Kim summit so far

As preparations get underway for the summit, a number of potential locations for the meeting are being negotiated between the two countries.

On January 20, Bloomberg reported that the summit is likely to take place in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

While Vietnam said on Thursday it has not been informed about any time or venue of a possible second summit between Trump and Kim but is confident in its ability to host such a meeting.

"It is up to the United States and North Korea (DPRK) to decide on the location and the timing of the summit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Thi Thu Hang told a regular news conference the same day.

Source(s): AP ,Reuters