Kim Jong-un committed to denuclearisation and has ‘unwavering trust in Donald Trump’, South Korea says

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un still has ‘unwavering trust’ for Donald Trump following their highly-publicised summit in June.

Despite some terse words being exchanged between the two sides since the summit took place in Singapore, Kim reportedly still hopes negotiations between the two sides can continue, with the end goal of denuclearisation still firmly in sight.

Following a meeting with Kim in Pyongyang on Wednesday, South Korean special envoy Chung Eun-yong said: ‘This trust, despite some difficulties surfaced during the negotiation process between the US and the North, will continue.’

<em>North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly has ‘unwavering trust for Donald Trump’ (Wikipedia)</em>
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly has ‘unwavering trust for Donald Trump’ (Wikipedia)
<em>Kim Jong-un (right) meets with South Korean National Security Director Chung Eui-yong in Pyongyang, North Korea (AP)</em>
Kim Jong-un (right) meets with South Korean National Security Director Chung Eui-yong in Pyongyang, North Korea (AP)

Chung said Kim told him North Korea ‘was willing to take more active measures toward denuclearisation if his advance steps could be met with matching measures (from the US).’

He added that Kim ‘never said anything bad about President Trump to anyone’.

Trump welcomed Kim’s remarks in a trademark Tweet.

“Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims ‘unwavering faith in President Trump.’ Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!” Trump wrote.

The North Korea leader is said to have reaffirmed his commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and the suspension of all future long-range missile tests.

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Kim also reportedly expressed frustration with outside scepticism about his nuclear disarmament intentions and demanded that his ‘goodwill measures’ be met in kind.

Neither North Korea or the United States have been willing to make any substantive move towards denuclearisation since the summit.

The summit later this month between Kim and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in, the driving force behind the current diplomacy, will be a crucial indicator of whether larger nuclear negotiations with the United States will proceed.

<em>The North Korean leader <span class="s1">reaffirmed his commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula</span> (AP)</em>
The North Korean leader reaffirmed his commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula (AP)

Mr Moon is seen as eager to keep the diplomacy alive in part so that he can advance his ambitious engagement plans with the North, which would need US backing to succeed.

South Korea is trying to persuade Washington and Pyongyang to proceed with peace and denuclearisation processes at the same time.

Seoul and Pyongyang both want a declaration to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War.

<em>South Korean National Security Director Chung Eui-yong speaks during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul (AP)</em>
South Korean National Security Director Chung Eui-yong speaks during a press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul (AP)

However, US officials have insisted that a peace declaration cannot come before North Korea takes more concrete action toward abandoning its nuclear weapons.

While an end-of-war declaration would not imply a legally binding peace treaty, experts say it could create political momentum that would make it easier for North Korea to steer the discussions toward a peace regime, diplomatic recognition, economic benefits and security concessions.