USA: Ready to Discuss with North Korea at an Appropriate Time

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, in a phone conversation with Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, stated that the USA is willing to engage in discussions with North Korea, 'at an appropriate time and under suitable conditions.' The White House announced this news on Wednesday following the phone call between the US President and the South Korean President. Moon Jae-in conveyed the latest status of the discussions between North and South Korea, which took place on Tuesday, to the US President. The Tuesday talks between the North and South Korean delegations mark the first round of meetings between the two Koreas in the past two years. During a meeting with his cabinet members and in response to reporters' questions about further details regarding the possibility of negotiations with North Korea, Trump said, 'No one knows where this path leads.' The US President added, 'We hope it will become a success for the world, not just for our country. In the weeks and months ahead, we will see what happens.' North Korea was sanctioned by the UN Security Council last year due to missile tests. The discussions between the two Koreas took place on Tuesday in the village of Panmunjom at the border between the two Koreas. Reports indicate that both sides agreed to establish an emergency contact line between the military leaders of the two countries. It was also agreed that North Korea would send a delegation to participate in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have significantly escalated with increased military and nuclear tests by Pyongyang and heightened verbal conflicts since Donald Trump took office. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, raised the issue of negotiations and reducing tensions between the two Koreas in his New Year's message. Following that, Seoul and Pyongyang officially expressed their agreement to hold talks.