Trump praises relationship with Kim Jong-un, wants third summit

Trump (left) and Kim Jong-un at the second US-North Korea Summit. Photo: AFP

"I agree with Chairman Kim Jong-un that our personal relationship remains very good, perhaps excellent would be a more accurate word. A third summit would be good if both sides clearly understand each other's positions," US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on April 13.

Trump said he hoped the day would come soon when nuclear weapons and sanctions would be lifted and he wanted to see North Korea become one of the most successful countries in the world. "North Korea has tremendous potential for growth, economic success and prosperity under the leadership of Chairman Kim," Trump stressed.

The US President's statement came just hours after the North Korean leader said he was willing to hold a third summit if the US changed its current negotiating stance. He said he would wait until the end of the year for the US to decide.

US-North Korea nuclear talks have been deadlocked since the second summit in Hanoi in February ended without an agreement due to disagreements over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and US sanctions.

At a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Washington on April 11, US President Trump expressed his willingness to hold a third summit but affirmed that Washington would maintain sanctions on Pyongyang.

Last month, a senior North Korean official warned that Mr Kim might rethink his decision to suspend missile launches and nuclear tests since 2017 unless Washington made concessions such as easing sanctions.