We start with news that a second North Korea-U.S. summit is as good as on.<br />North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man is reportedly heading to the United States on Thursday.<br />Kim Yong-chol will likely meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the following day... to work out the details of another meeting between their respective bosses.<br />Oh Jung-hee reports.<br /> <br />Pyeongyang's top nuclear negotiator is making his way to the United States this week.<br />According to CNN, Kim Yong-chol, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, is to visit Washington on Thursday.<br />He's to stay overnight, and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday.<br />It isn't clear whether he will meet President Trump, but that is expected by the North Korean side according to CNN.<br /><br />The visit by the North's key negotiator is most likely to settle the details of the second North Korea-U.S. summit.<br />There have been signs that the summit is drawing near.<br />The North Korean leader met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the break of the new year to coordinate strategies on denuclearization talks.<br />And the leaders of Pyeongyang and Washington exchanged letters as well.<br />Now comes the North's top official heading to Washington for high-level talks with Mike Pompeo -- one of the very final stages in organizing the summit.<br />In the case of the first Pyeongyang-Washington summit last year, Kim Yong-chol flew to New York for talks with Pompeo... two weeks before the summit.<br /><br />The White House has not made any confirmation on Kim Yong-chol's visit to Washington.<br />But it's widely seen that North Korea and the U.S. are well into discussing where and when to hold their next summit.<br />There have been reports that President Trump suggested holding the meeting in Vietnam in mid-February.<br />And the key agenda for Kim and Pompeo this week will be to find a middle ground between each of their demands and go a step closer to reaching a deal involving tangible denuclearization steps and corresponding measures.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br />
