Let's start in Washington...<br />U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place as agreed,... although it may happen later than originally anticipated.<br />He also spoke about the chance for the two sides to make a fresh start after years of going toe-to-toe.<br />Lee Seung-jae reports. <br /> President Trump says he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month, or in early June,... in order to "hopefully" reach a deal on denuclearizing the regime. <br />Trump made the remarks at a cabinet meeting on Monday,... expressing optimism over the talks,.. and what the summit could mean for the future.<br /><br /> " North Korea by the way as you've probably seen, we've been in touch with North Korea, we will be meeting with them sometime in May or early June. And I think there will be great respect paid by both parties and hopefully we'll be able to make a deal on the denuking of North Korea. They've said so, we've said so, hopefully it'll be a relationship that's much different than it's been for many many years." <br /><br /> This comes after the White House had previously said President Trump would meet with Kim Jong-un before the end of May. <br />Trump said direct talks should've happened years ago,... but stressed that he was looking forward to the summit.<br /><br /> "This should have been done by other presidents and they decided they didn't do it. They couldn't have done it, but it would have been a lot easier if it were done five years ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, a lot earlier than now. But we have a meeting that is being set up with North Korea, so that will be very exciting I think for the world."<br /><br /> Over the weekend,... the White House confirmed North Korea had told the U.S. that it was willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,... offering a clearer picture of the agenda for the talks.<br /> However observers remain cautious despite the easing tensions,... with John Bolton officially starting his position as Trump's National Security Advisor on Monday, replacing H.R. McMaster. <br />Bolton had previously outlined his advocacy of an attack on North Korea. <br />Many hope his "case for striking North Korea first" will not negatively affect the upcoming summit.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. <br />
