The United States is having direct talks at "extremely high levels" with North Korea, US President Donald Trump says, as the countries narrow down options for a possible summit between their leaders.
Photo: Yomiuri
Mr Trump made the statement during a photo op with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as they opened two days of talks at the president's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida, which is to include a round of golf.
Mr Abe obtained an agreement from Mr Trump to bring up the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea during any summit.
Mr Trump said US officials were looking at five different locations for a late-May or early-June meeting with Mr Kim.
"We have had direct talks at very high levels, extremely high levels, with North Korea. And I really believe this allows good will, that good things are happening," Mr Trump said.
"We'll see what happens, ... because ultimately it's the end result that counts, not the fact that we're thinking about having a meeting, or having a meeting."
Mr Trump said none of the locations were within the United States and did not identify who on the US side was talking to the North Koreans.
The US-Japan talks looked set to focused on the prospect of a North Korea summit, with Japan seeking a US commitment that any denuclearisation deal the countries seal would include shorter-range missiles that could be aimed at Japan, not just long-range ones capable of reaching the US.
Photo: AFP / Yomiuri
Mr Trump said it was possible that diplomatic efforts to arrange a summit would fall short.
"It's possible things won't go well and we won't have the meetings and we'll just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken," he said.
Mr Trump also backed efforts between South Korea and the North aimed to end a state of war that has existed between the two countries since 1953.
"They do have my blessing to discuss the end of the war. People don't realize the Korean War has not ended. It's going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. Subject to a deal they have my blessing and they do have my blessing to discuss that," he said.
"Japan and ourselves are locked and we are unified on the subject of North Korea," Mr Trump said.
Mr Abe said Japan would like North Korea to agree to a complete, verifiable denuclearization and that Mr Trump had shown "courage" in attempting to set up a summit with Mr Kim.
Both leaders could use a successful summit to give themselves a political boost at home. Mr Trump has been hounded by controversies linked to an investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election, and Mr Abe is struggling with declining popularity because of scandals over suspected cronyism.
Mr Trump has forged close ties with Abe during his 15 months in power and the two have bonded over rounds of golf during Mr Abe's last visit to Florida more than a year ago and Mr Trump's visit to Tokyo last November.
Trade agenda
Japan fears Mr Trump will try to link vital security matters with touchy trade topics. Tokyo is eager to avoid being pushed into talks on a two-way free trade agreement aimed not only at market access but at currency policies, something South Korea recently accepted when it renegotiated a trade deal with the US.
Japan has also not been given an exemption to tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the United States, unlike the European Union, Canada and Mexico.
While Mr Trump has said he prefers bilateral trade deals over multilateral ones, he recently instructed US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow to reopen talks for the United States to enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Mr Trump killed that pact officials had been negotiating for eight years when he took office last year. The 11 other countries including New Zealand pushed ahead with an altered version in the US's absence.
Mr Kudlow appeared to indicate there was little prospect of immediate progress on rejoining.