Washington: United States President Donald Trump on Friday stated that his summit with North Korea’s leader could still happen on June 12, just a day after his abrupt cancellation of the same.
“We’re going to see what happens. We’re talking to them now. It was a very nice statement they put out. We’ll see what happens. It could even be the 12th. We’re talking to them now. They very much want to do it. We’d like to do it,” CNN quoted Trump, as saying on the South Lawn before departing in his helicopter for the US Naval Academy in Maryland, where he is delivering a commencement address.
On Thursday, the US President, as per a release by the White House, called off the much-anticipated United States-North Korea summit.
The US President blamed the ‘hostility’ and anger displayed by North Korea regarding the US-South Korea Max military drills for cancelling the summit.
“Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, l feel it is inappropriate at this time to have this long-planned meeting,” Trump said in a release.
Trump further took a dig at Kim Jong-Un by saying that “You talk about your nuclear capabilities. But ours are so massive and powerful that l pray to God they will never have to be used.”
He further said that “If you change your mind having to do with this summit, don’t hesitate”, as referred to canceling of the summit as a missed opportunity.
North Korea later said it was willing to talk “at any time in any form”.
Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan said Mr Trump’s cancellation decision was “extremely regrettable”.
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Kim had threatened to back off from the summit following the military drills as he was quoted by Fox News saying, the United States doesn’t stop committing ‘unlawful and outrageous acts’.
Earlier on May 23, Donald Trump had said that the fate of the planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be decided next week.
The two leaders are likely to discuss denuclearisation of North Korea in the summit. (ANI)