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Trump Calls Off June 12 Meeting With Kim Jong-un, Hopes to Meet Him 'Some Day'

© AP Photo / Ahn Young-joonPeople pass by a TV screen showing file footages of U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 9, 2018
People pass by a TV screen showing file footages of U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 9, 2018 - Sputnik International
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Until now the fate of the long-awaited summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un had been unknown. While Washington had demanded that the DPRK start the process of denuclearization, Pyongyang stressed that it would negotiate with Trump only if he was seeking to improve bilateral relations.

"I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," Trump said, referring to a meeting with Kim Jong-un slated for June 12. "Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place," read Trump's letter to Kim Jong-un, released by the White House.

The US president has blamed the cancellation on North Korea's "tremendous anger and open hostility" expressed in Kim's latest statement.

READ MORE: N Korean FM: Trump-Kim Summit Depends on 'US Behavior'

In the letter, Trump also told Kim "do not hesitate to call me or write" if Pyongyang changes its mind regarding the planned summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walk together at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, April 27, 2018 - Sputnik International
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The US president warned that with the canceled meeting, the world lost a "great opportunity for lasting peace," adding that while the North Koreans talk about their nuclear arsenal, American nukes are "so massive and powerful" that he "prays to God they will never have to be used."

Later in the day, the US president stated that in the wake of summit's cancellation, the country's military was ready to counter any threat from North Korea.

Doubts about whether the meeting between Trump and Kim would take place emerged after Pyongyang decided to cancel ministerial level talks with Seoul over US-South Korea military drills. Despite that, Washington continued to prepare for the summit, pledging to do its utmost to ensure that the meeting would be successful.

READ MORE: Dismantaling of N Korea's Punggye-Ri Nuclear Test Site Completed

However, Trump, when saying that it was not clear whether the planned summit between him and Kim would still take place, firmly insisted on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, Pyongyang has continuously stressed that it is not interested in unilateral demands from the US on denuclearization and will negotiate with Trump only if he aims to mend relations between the two countries.

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