U.S. President Donald Trump spent part of his weekend telling reporters about the "very beautiful", three-page letter he received from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. <br />Trump says Kim is eager to hold another summit,... but was concerned about the joint military drills between Seoul and Washington,... which seemingly struck a chord with the U.S. President.<br />Won Jung-hwan reports. <br /><br />President Trump tweeted details about the "beautiful" letter he received from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,… just 15 hours after Pyeongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. <br />Trump said Saturday that Kim wants to meet once again to resume nuclear talks with the U.S.,... as soon as the joint military exercise between Seoul and Washington is over. <br />Noting that it was "a long letter, much of it complaining about the ridiculous and expensive exercises,"… Trump also said Kim apologized for the recent flurry of short-range missile tests that has rattled U.S. allies in the region,… and assured that they would cease testing when the combined exercise ends. <br />Trump did not give any details about when the two leaders might meet again, but said that he looked forward to seeing Kim in the not-too-distant future. <br /><br />However,… some news outlets have expressed concerns that Trump appeared to be siding with Kim in his objections to the joint drills with South Korea,… calling them "ridiculous and expensive"... at a time of renewed security tensions.<br />The Washington Post said his tweets are sending the wrong message to U.S. allies,… calling it a "mob shakedown" which could have potentially destabilizing effects.<br />The New York Times also said Trump is seemingly echoing the North's criticism over the drills,... saying they cost too much and South Korea does not pay enough for them.<br />Indeed on Friday, Mr. Trump again said he had never supported the exercises with South Korea to begin with.<br /><br />Meanwhile, North Korea says it won't talk with South Korea... unless Seoul pulls out of its joint exercise with the U.S. or provides a convincing reason.<br />That's according to a statement released on Sunday morning,... by a senior North Korean foreign ministry official in charge of U.S. affairs.<br />The official said... any future talks would involve only the North and the U.S.,... not South Korea,... who he criticized for not recognizing Pyeongyang's right to self-defense.<br />Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News. <br />
