North Korea says still open to talks after Trump cancels summit

People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on a cancelled summit between the US and North Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, 

May 25, 2018 -REUTERS

Seoul (Reuters): North Korea said yesterday that it was still open to talks with the United States after President Donald Trump called off a summit with its leader Kim Jong Un, saying it hoped the “Trump formula” could resolve the standoff over its nuclear weapons program.

Trump, on Thursday (24 May), announced his withdrawal from what would have been the first-ever meeting between a serving US president and a North Korean leader, scheduled be in Singapore on 12 June, in a letter to Kim, citing North Korea’s “tremendous anger and open hostility”.

Trump’s decision came after repeated threats by North Korea to pull out of the summit over what it saw as confrontational remarks by US officials.

 “We have inwardly highly appreciated President Trump for having made the bold decision, which any other US presidents dared not, and made efforts for such a crucial event as the summit,” North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said in a statement carried by state media.

 “We even inwardly hoped that what is called ‘Trump formula’ would help clear both sides of their worries and comply with the requirements of our side, and would be a wise way of substantial effect for settling the issue,” he said, without elaborating.

Kim Kye Gwan said North Korea’s recent criticisms of certain US officials had been a reaction to unbridled American rhetoric, and that the current antagonism showed “the urgent necessity” for the summit.

 “His sudden and unilateral announcement to cancel the summit is something unexpected to us and we cannot but feel great regret for it,” Kim Kye Gwan said, adding that North Korea remained open to resolving issues with Washington “regardless of ways, at any time”.