Vietnam's foreign minister to visit DPRK ahead of Trump-Kim summit

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Vietnam's foreign minister will fly to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday for an official state visit, the ministry announced, ahead of a second planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump announced last week on Twitter that Vietnam's capital Hanoi will be the host for a second summit with DPRK leader Kim on February 27-28.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh "will pay an official visit to the DPRK from February 12 to 14" at the invitation of his DPRK counterpart Ri Yong Ho, Vietnam's foreign ministry announced on its website Monday.

No further details were provided for the visit, but ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said last week Vietnam is "willing to make positive contributions for a successful U.S.-DPRK summit."

The high-profile summit is expected for the two leaders to discuss steps for DPRK's denuclearization, which follows a landmark first meeting between Trump and Kim in Singapore in June last year.

(Cover: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) speaks during a meeting in Hanoi, November 30, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP