(United States, 12th) According to NK News citing a "well-informed senior source," North Korean diplomats based in New York reportedly refused to accept a letter sent from U.S. President Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This letter aims to restart dialogue between the two sides.
The report states that the letter was personally drafted by Trump to reopen the communication channels established during his first term, especially after the historic summit in Singapore in 2018. However, despite multiple attempts by the U.S. to personally deliver the letter to North Korea's delegation to the United Nations, the North Korean side reportedly "outright" rejected the letter.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt confirmed that Trump is still "willing to communicate with Kim Jong-un" and hopes to rekindle the progress made during their first meeting. Levitt stated in a press conference: "The President remains willing to communicate with Kim Jong-un, and he hopes to see the progress made at the 2018 Singapore summit continue."
When pressed about the letter's content, Levitt refused to elaborate further, stating only: "As for the specifics of the communication, I will leave it to the President to address."
There has been external anticipation for Trump possibly resuming personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un. During his first term, Trump met with Kim Jong-un three times, in Singapore (2018), Hanoi (2019), and later that year at the Panmunjom border between North and South Korea.
The Singapore summit was seen as a milestone where the two leaders committed to working together to achieve the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula and establish a new bilateral relationship. However, due to mutual distrust and North Korea's continued development of nuclear weapons and missile systems, the agreement eventually broke down.
Trump's current administration reiterated its commitment to pursuing North Korea's complete denuclearization, but any renewed efforts seem to be currently stalled.
The report states that the letter was personally drafted by Trump to reopen the communication channels established during his first term, especially after the historic summit in Singapore in 2018. However, despite multiple attempts by the U.S. to personally deliver the letter to North Korea's delegation to the United Nations, the North Korean side reportedly "outright" rejected the letter.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt confirmed that Trump is still "willing to communicate with Kim Jong-un" and hopes to rekindle the progress made during their first meeting. Levitt stated in a press conference: "The President remains willing to communicate with Kim Jong-un, and he hopes to see the progress made at the 2018 Singapore summit continue."
When pressed about the letter's content, Levitt refused to elaborate further, stating only: "As for the specifics of the communication, I will leave it to the President to address."
There has been external anticipation for Trump possibly resuming personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un. During his first term, Trump met with Kim Jong-un three times, in Singapore (2018), Hanoi (2019), and later that year at the Panmunjom border between North and South Korea.
The Singapore summit was seen as a milestone where the two leaders committed to working together to achieve the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula and establish a new bilateral relationship. However, due to mutual distrust and North Korea's continued development of nuclear weapons and missile systems, the agreement eventually broke down.
Trump's current administration reiterated its commitment to pursuing North Korea's complete denuclearization, but any renewed efforts seem to be currently stalled.