Prime Minister Kim: "Trump said meeting Kim Jong Un could take place during or after his visit to China" (Comprehensive)

The Financial News – Prime Minister Kim Min-seok of South Korea said that U.S. President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit China from the end of this month to early next month, showed considerable interest in meeting Kim Jong Un, President of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea.
Prime Minister Kim, who is visiting the United States of America (US), explained that on the 13th local time he had an unscheduled meeting of about 20 minutes with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House. During that meeting, they exchanged views on North Korea. He noted, "A significant part of our conversation was President Trump asking for my views on the North Korea issue."
At a meeting with the South Korean press corps held at the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Kim said, "President Trump said, 'I have maintained a good relationship with Chairman Kim. And I am curious whether Chairman Kim wants to talk with the United States or with me,' and he asked for my opinion." He added, "In response to that question, I shared several points with him."
Prime Minister Kim went on, "I told him that, fundamentally, he is the only leader from the West who has actually held talks with North Korea and Chairman Kim. I said I believe he is the only leader with the capacity to act as a peacemaker in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula." He added, "He appeared to take my remarks as very meaningful and reacted with clear satisfaction."
Prime Minister Kim did not disclose the specific proposals he conveyed to President Trump.
However, he explained, "My proposals reflected the judgment that, in order to keep even a small possibility alive with North Korea, it would be better to increase contacts and dialogue. I pointed out that North Korea’s rhetoric has slightly advanced from the earlier expression that there was 'no reason we cannot meet' to the latest remark that 'there is no particular reason our relations have to be bad,' which seems to hint at normalizing ties. Based on this, I told him that at the very least, the possibility for contact and dialogue remains open." He continued, "Among my proposals, I have an idea about what specific step could serve as a card to break through the current deadlock." He added, "It is difficult to make that public, but President Trump showed great interest."
Prime Minister Kim said, "President Trump instructed one of his aides to further look into several points I had raised. He also gave directions on what kind of measures might be appropriate regarding North Korea." He added, "It would not be appropriate for me to disclose what exactly he ordered and how, before the head of state himself makes that public."
Prime Minister Kim stressed in particular, "President Trump said, 'It would be really good to meet him (Chairman Kim). But that meeting could take place during my trip to China, or it might not, and it could also happen afterward.'" Kim explained that this remark meant the timing of a U.S.–North Korea summit did not necessarily have to coincide with Trump’s visit to China.
He went on to assess President Trump’s stance on talks between the U.S. and North Korean leaders, saying, "If the timing of a meeting between President Trump and Chairman Kim comes quickly, or if it is linked to the China visit, that would be meaningful in itself. But he seems firmly convinced that, even if it does not happen then, what is fundamentally important is that dialogue or contact actually proceeds." Prime Minister Kim added, "I cannot say whether this North Korea issue ranks high or low in the overall priorities of U.S. foreign policy, but I clearly felt that it is within his sphere of concern. There were many other remarks and exchanges from President Trump that I have not recounted one by one, but I could definitely sense that he has strong interest in this issue and is keen to resolve it." He also said, "I asked President Trump whether it would be acceptable for me to put my assessments and opinions, which I had conveyed orally, into a more detailed memorandum in English and submit it before I leave the United States, and he told me to do so. I plan to deliver it soon."
Prime Minister Kim said that, immediately after his meeting with President Trump, he reported the details to President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea, even though it was early dawn in Korean time.
Meanwhile, the meeting between Prime Minister Kim and President Trump that day was not on the original schedule and came about quite suddenly.
Prime Minister Kim explained that earlier that day, he had been meeting with Paula Michelle White-Cain, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, in a conference room next to the Oval Office at the White House. During that meeting, at her arrangement, he was introduced to President Trump and held a conversation without an interpreter. Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America, was also present, he said.
Prime Minister Kim recalled, "I told President Trump, 'President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea always speaks about you. He often says you are the only leader who can resolve the issues on the Korean Peninsula.'" He added, "In response, President Trump showed interest in North Korea, immediately asked his aide to bring the photographs taken with Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom, and we continued our conversation while looking at them."
He continued, "Because President Trump had just finished an important meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were there as well. When I spoke about him being 'the only leader who can resolve the Korean Peninsula issue,' President Trump turned to them and said, 'Did you hear that?' Then he asked me, 'Could you say that once more?' and took it in with very good humor."
clean@fnnews.com Lee Jeong-hwa Reporter