WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump and North Korea (all times local):
9 p.m.
South Korea says it feels relieved about the revived talks for a summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the future of Kim’s nuclear weapons program.
The statement by Seoul’s presidential office on Saturday came hours after Trump welcomed North Korea’s conciliatory response to his Thursday letter withdrawing from the summit, and said the meeting might be getting back on track.
Trump tweeted later Friday that the summit, if it does happen, will likely take place June 12 in Singapore, as originally planned.
Seoul’s Blue House says it’s “carefully” watching the developments between Washington and Pyongyang.
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8:45 p.m.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is “having very productive talks with North Korea” about a summit next month with Kim Jong Un, and says it could happen June 12, the date that was under consideration before Trump abruptly canceled the summit Thursday.
Trump is tweeting that if the summit happens it “will likely remain in Singapore on the same date, June 12th., and, if necessary, will be extended beyond that date.”
Trump had said earlier Friday that the potentially historic summit might be getting back on track.
On Thursday, Trump had canceled the summit, citing the North’s “tremendous anger and open hostility.”
The North Korean government said Friday it is still “willing to give the U.S. time and opportunities” to reconsider talks “at any time.”
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2:30 p.m.
Vladimir Putin says finding a solution to the North Korea nuclear tensions is of great importance to Russia and says North Korea’s sovereignty should be guaranteed.
The Russian president said Friday that “a full denuclearization of North Korea” should involve giving “North Korea a guarantee of their sovereignty and inviolability.”
Putin said that “if you don’t behave aggressively and if you don’t corner North Korea, the result that we need will be achieved faster than many would think, and at less cost.”
Nothing that North Korea borders Russia, Putin said resolution “is of critical importance, especially when the situation is on the brink of war.”
His comments came as President Donald Trump said the U.S. was talking with North Korea about putting the summit back on track. On Thursday, Trump had canceled the summit, citing the North’s “tremendous anger and open hostility.”
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10:30 a.m.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says there is “possibly some good news” about a U.S.-North Korea summit.
Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Friday, Mattis said diplomats are working to get the summit back on track.
Mattis called the recent back-and-forth between President Donald Trump and North Korea, which seemed to indicate the summit would not happen as planned on June 12, the “usual give and take.”
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9:30 a.m.
President Donald Trump says the United States is “talking to” North Korea after he canceled a planned summit with leader Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon). He told reporters Friday that “everybody plays games.”
Asked about the summit, Trump said Friday: “We’ll see what happens, it could even be the 12th,” referring to the June 12 date originally set.
Trump, who spoke to reporters at the White House before heading to the Naval Academy graduation ceremony, stressed that both sides would like the summit to happen. He said: “They very much want to do it, we’d like to do it.”
Trump withdrew from the summit Thursday, but has left open the possibility that the two leaders could still meet.
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8:23 a.m.
President Donald Trump says North Korea’s latest statement on nuclear talks is “good news” and that “we will soon see where it will lead.”
The North Korean government on Friday said it is still “willing to give the U.S. time and opportunities” to reconsider talks “at any time, at any format.” The statement was issued in response to Trump’s abrupt cancellation of the June summit between the two countries in the U.S. bid to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapon.
Trump tweeted Friday: “Very good news to receive the warm and productive statement from North Korea. We will soon see where it will lead, hopefully to long and enduring prosperity and peace. Only time (and talent) will tell!”
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1:08 a.m.
For President Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un (kim jawng oon) may be the deal that got away.
Trump and his team weathered insults, tolerated unanswered phone calls and waited hours for negotiating partners who never showed up as they sought to keep the planned Singapore summit with Kim on track.
With prospects dimming and aides increasingly skeptical, Trump at first clung to his plans to meet with the North Korean leader, seeking to pull off what the president saw as a history-making nuclear deal. Trump could envision Nobel laurels.
Eager for a bold accomplishment, Trump agreed to Kim’s March overture for a summit in less than an hour, ignoring warnings of seasoned advisers.
But on Thursday morning, Trump determined that - for now anyway - the meeting was an unrequited diplomatic dream.
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