Trump: "If It Helps, I Will Hold a Third Summit with Kim Jong-un"

"Understood as North Korea also wanting to meet"

Donald Trump, President of the United States, is giving a speech at the Oklahoma Bank Center (BOK) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during a presidential campaign rally held on the 20th (local time). President Trump resumed his campaign rallies on this day after suspending them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 7th (local time) that he could hold a third North Korea-U.S. summit with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un if it would be helpful. This message came amid the visit of Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, drawing attention to whether it will open the door to North Korea-U.S. dialogue.

In an interview with Greta Van Susteren, anchor of the U.S. channel Gray TV, President Trump said in response to a question about a third North Korea-U.S. summit, "I understand that they (North Korea) want to meet, and of course, we will do so as well."

When Greta Van Susteren repeatedly asked if he would hold an additional summit with Chairman Kim, President Trump said, "If it helps, I will do that." When asked if the third summit would be helpful, he replied, "Probably," emphasizing, "I have a very good relationship with him (Kim Jong-un)."

President Trump reiterated that he avoided war with North Korea and mentioned that former President Barack Obama said in their first conversation, "The biggest problem we have is North Korea."

President Trump said, "If Hillary (Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State) had won the last election, we would be in a big war with North Korea right now," adding, "Everyone thought I would start a war, but look at what has happened now."

Regarding the criticism that North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons, he said, "We have to watch," adding that they still do not have delivery systems, etc.

He continued, "There may be times when something happens, so we have very serious discussions and need to think about it."

President Trump reiterated, "Right now, we are getting along well with Kim Jong-un, and I have a good relationship with him," and said, "We have lost no one, no one has died, and I am okay with that."

Meanwhile, on the day of President Trump's remarks, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to continue efforts to bring North Korea to the dialogue table.

Lee Do-hoon, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, met with Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building on the 8th and told reporters, "We had in-depth consultations on ways to quickly open the door to dialogue in light of the current situation."

Lee said, "Representative Biegun reaffirmed that he has a flexible stance to achieve a balanced agreement when resuming talks with North Korea and said he would continue related efforts."