Trump Makes Repeated Overtures to Kim Jong Un... U.S. Says, “Phone Talks Also Possible”

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un within the year, while a White House official also hinted that phone talks could be possible.
On the 18th (local time), a U.S. official said during a phone briefing on Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the United States and other matters, in response to a question about U.S.-North Korea talks, "President Trump's message has been stated very publicly: He is ready to engage in dialogue with Kim Jong Un, whether by phone or in person," adding, "I think the ball is now clearly in North Korea's court."
Last month, President Trump said several times that he maintained good relations with Kim Jong Un and expressed his intention to pursue a U.S.-North Korea summit.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) also assessed at a closed-door full meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 1st that a Trump-Kim summit could take place at any time.
At the time, a White House official said in response to the Voice of America's request for comment on the NIS assessment that a Trump-Kim summit could take place at any time, "President Trump held three historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term, stabilizing the Korean Peninsula."
The official continued, "U.S. policy toward North Korea has not changed," and added, "President Trump remains open to talks with Kim Jong Un without preconditions."
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State also said at the time, "The United States remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea," adding, "The United States remains open to dialogue with North Korea without preconditions."
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