Trump says U.S.-DPRK summit likely remains as scheduled

U.S. President Donald Trump said here on Friday that the United States will possibly reinstate the meeting with the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.

People watch a TV screen showing file footage of U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. [File photo: AP]

"We are having very productive talks with North Korea (DPRK) about reinstating the Summit which, if it does happen, will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th," Trump tweeted.

He added that if necessary, the meeting "will be extended beyond that date."

Trump said earlier on Friday that his planned meeting with Kim "could even be the (June) 12th," adding that both the DPRK and the United States want the meeting to happen.

"We'll see what happens. We are talking to them now," Trump said. "They very much want to do it. We'd like to do it."

Trump on Thursday sent a letter to Kim, saying that their planned meeting will not happen.

DPRK's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said his country is ready to sit down with the United States anytime in any manner for talks to solve the problems existing between them.

China said Friday that it hoped the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States would cherish the recent progress and continue to address mutual concerns via dialogue and push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks at a daily press briefing.