Tillerson: Trump Will 'Engage' with North Korean Leader, Not 'Negotiate'

Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, distinguished between 'engagement' and 'negotiation', stating that the meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un will be at the level of 'engagement' rather than 'negotiation'. Following Trump's announcement to meet with the North Korean leader, reporters in Djibouti asked Tillerson what prompted this decision from the U.S. President. Tillerson responded that Trump had been 'prepared for some time' to engage and meet with Kim Jong-un but decided on Thursday that 'the time is right'. He noted, 'In the President's view, the time has come.' However, Tillerson did not elaborate further on the difference between 'engagement' and 'negotiation'. On Thursday, March 8, Chung Eui-yong, the South Korean National Security Advisor, directly conveyed Kim Jong-un's message to Donald Trump. After meeting with Trump, he told reporters at the White House that the U.S. President accepted Kim Jong-un's invitation for a meeting. In this context, Tillerson stated that after the South Korean delegation's visit to North Korea and their trip to Washington, it became clear that there had been a change in Pyongyang's position that led to Trump's agreement to meet with Kim Jong-un. Tillerson remarked, 'His (the North Korean leader's) posture changed significantly. Honestly, this change was somewhat surprising for us as well.' While Trump had previously spoken of 'fire and fury' against North Korea, Tillerson simultaneously expressed optimism for a diplomatic solution. The Associated Press noted that in recent months, Washington has sent mixed signals to North Korea. Tillerson also mentioned that Trump's positive response to Kim Jong-un's invitation was 'a decision by the President himself'. He added, 'This was something the [President] had in mind for some time.' The Secretary of State emphasized, 'Now I think the issue is agreeing on the time and place for the first meeting between the two, which will take a few weeks to finalize.' Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, who was also in Astana, stated that the potential meeting between the U.S. President and the North Korean leader should lead to the resumption of negotiations to resolve the conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Lavrov said, 'This meeting should not just end in engagement but should pave the way for the resumption of a comprehensive political negotiation process aimed at resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.' According to Lavrov, these discussions should be based on principles approved in the Six-Party Talks and the Security Council. Kang Kyung-wha, the South Korean Foreign Minister, also reported close cooperation with the U.S. government to plan a 'productive and beneficial meeting' between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. China and Japan have also welcomed the upcoming meeting between the U.S. and North Korean leaders.