Kim Jong-un 'Ready' for Another Meeting with Trump and 'Concerned' About Negotiation Process

Chinese and North Korean state media reported on January 9 that during Kim Jong-un's recent visit to China, he expressed readiness for a new meeting with Donald Trump while also voicing concerns about the deadlock in negotiations. Kim Jong-un, his wife, and several senior North Korean officials traveled to China on January 7. During this visit, the North Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Three days after this trip, the state media of both countries released parts of their leaders' discussions. According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, Kim Jong-un stated, 'The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) remains committed to the denuclearization process and resolving issues related to the Korean Peninsula and is working to arrange a second meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea to achieve results acceptable to the international community.' Xinhua reported that the Chinese President supported the renewed meeting between Kim and Trump, stating, 'China is ready to play a constructive and positive role alongside North Korea and other parties to maintain peace and stability and achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.' Reports indicate that Kim Jong-un expressed hope during his meeting with Xi Jinping that North Korea's 'reasonable concerns' would be taken seriously and that appropriate responses would be provided to achieve a favorable outcome on the Korean Peninsula. In a report published by the official North Korean news agency on Thursday morning, the leader expressed concern about the deadlock in negotiations and the process of improving relations between Washington and Pyongyang. In this report, Kim emphasized that 'his initial position for achieving a solution peacefully and through dialogue has not changed.' Recent developments are seen by some as steps that may eventually lead to a new meeting between Kim and Trump. In his New Year's message, the North Korean leader expressed readiness for another meeting with the U.S. President and to move towards denuclearization, but warned that 'if our patience runs out, we will take a new path.' Shortly after, Donald Trump stated that he received an 'extraordinary letter' from the North Korean leader and added that he is looking forward to their second meeting. The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported yesterday, citing its sources, that Kim's recent visit to China occurred after Trump's response to the North Korean leader's letter. Some analysts suggest that the North Korean leader's trip to China was aimed at 'coordinating' between Pyongyang and Beijing ahead of potential negotiations between Kim and Trump. The leaders of North Korea and the United States met in Singapore last spring and agreed to move towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. However, no specific practical steps have been taken since then. The United States states that the lifting of sanctions will only occur after the complete denuclearization of North Korea, while North Korea has expressed dissatisfaction regarding the continuation of sanctions and other issues such as the deadlock in signing a peace treaty between the two Koreas.